Provincial snowpack rebounds to near-normal with snowy February
Mar 8, 2023 | 2:26 PM
James Peters
KAMLOOPS — A snowy February has led to an alpine snowpack much closer to normal across B.C.
The latest Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin produced by the B.C. River Forecast Centre shows measurements from March 1.
The report shows snowpack at an average of 94 per cent of normal across the province. That’s up from 79 per cent as of Feb. 1, a figure that led to concerns of drought or increased wildfire danger come spring.
Accumulation totals are also up significantly for the Fraser River basin, from 75 per cent of normal on Feb. 1 to 94 per cent this month.
These are snowpack totals for more specific areas of the Interior, as a percentage of normal:
- West Road-Chilcotin (139 per cent)
- Quesnel (111 per cent)
- Bridge (74 per cent)
- North Thompson (91 per cent)
- Lower Thompson (130 per cent)
- South Thompson (105 per cent)
The centre notes many areas of the Interior, including the North Coast and Cariboo, received above normal precipitation in February.
While totals can still change significantly before the end of the season, 80 per cent of seasonal snowpack has typically accumulated by March 1.
Read the full report:
