Keep that snow coming. Keep away the impending drought.
Recently, Squamish residents had to wipe snow off their vehicles, driveways and sidewalks.
Asking for more snow isn’t always a popular opinion. But given the lack of snowpack this winter, the flurries we had over the weekend are very much welcome.
The latest provincial Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin, which was issued in February, stated the Squamish area’s snowpack was only at 41% of its normal capacity.
Around the same time last year, when we were also facing a less-than-ideal snowfall, that number was 73%. From then to now, it’s been a dramatic drop.
Why is this so important? The snowpack at higher elevations feeds our freshwater supply during the summer. No snow up high in the mountains means no meltwater coming into our potable water reserves later in the year. We need that snow.
Last year, a reduced snowpack in the province paved the way for a deep drought following May’s record-breaking heatwave. The snow we needed for meltwater rapidly dried. This paved the path for a devastating fire season, which torched over 28,000 square kilometres across the province. While as of press deadline, there are no numbers for how the late winter flurries have changed the numbers, it’s probably safe to bet our snowpack isn’t where it should be.
Squamish is not alone in having this problem. According to the snow bulletin, our neighbours in the Vancouver area have a snowpack that’s 47% of their normal capacity. In Vancouver Island, that number is at an alarmingly low 30%. In the meantime, authorities have expressed concern that there’s a serious risk of drought this summer.
The Canadian Press reported Premier David Eby has reportedly voiced his concern over what he dubbed as “some of the most dramatic drought conditions that have been seen in our lifetime.”
An Environment Canada meteorologist was quoted in The Vancouver Sun as saying that B.C. still hasn’t caught up for the lack of precipitation that we’ve had since August 2022. As of March 4, there are 94 active wildfires in B.C. Most of them are in the Prince George region, and many have been burning since last summer. Authorities must get ready, but given how overwhelming the conditions will likely be, ordinary residents must prepare themselves, as well. Evacuation orders will be an increasingly likely possibility as we head into the warmer months.
If you haven’t put together that emergency kit, now’s the best time to start. Especially while there’s still water to go around.
Considering all this, please—let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
