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Drought Information: What’s New

September 14, 2011

Water Supply and Streamflow Conditions

Weather conditions in August and the beginning of September were more typical of summer, with the southern half of the province dominated by a series of high pressure ridges and warm, dry conditions. The strongest ridge brought record-breaking temperatures to some areas of southern BC over the past week. Despite the drier conditions in most areas, streamflows have remained near-normal for the majority of the province, with the exception of the South Thompson region. The cool, wet spring which carried into July has helped to offset the decline in water levels normally exhibited by BC streams at this time of year. As a result, most areas of the province are at Level 1 (Normal) for drought conditions. The one exception is the South Thompson region, which is now at Level 2 (Dry). For the latest bulletin, go to http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/bulletins/watersupply/.
August 5, 2011

Water Supply and Streamflow Conditions

Weather patterns through the spring and early-summer have been cooler than normal and wetter than normal for much of British Columbia and this is consistent with the La Niña event that was observed earlier in the year. Snow pack levels this season were typically above normal for all areas of the province, and the cool spring delayed the melt season. As a result of the wet weather and delayed snowmelt runoff, river levels are currently above normal for most regions. Given this year’s wet and cool weather, and current higher than normal streamflow conditions, continued near normal or higher than normal streamflow is expected through the summer. All areas of the province are at Level 1 (Normal) for drought conditions. These conditions are expected to persist unless significant warm and dry weather occurs. For the latest bulletin, go to http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/bulletins/watersupply/.

June 23, 2011

Snow and Water Supply Bulletin

The June 15th snow survey is now complete. This is the final survey for the 2011 snow season. Data from four manual snow courses and 55 snow pillows around the province as well as out-of-province sampling locations, and climate data from Environment Canada, have been used to form the basis for the bulletin. For the latest bulletin go to http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/bulletins/watersupply/current.htm.

May 9, 2011

Snow Survey and Supply Bulletin

The May snow survey is now complete. Data from 142 snow courses and 55 snow pillows around the province and out-of-province sampling locations, and climate data from Environment Canada, have been used to form the basis for the most recent snow survey and water supply bulletin.

For the latest bulletin go to http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/bulletins/watersupply/current.htm.

March 1, 2011

Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin

Data from 149 snow courses and 52 snow pillows around the province, with 4 out-of-province sampling locations and climate data from Environment Canada, have been used to form the basis for the March bulletin.

Weather
Weather patterns in March have typically been a mix of Pacific frontal systems delivering moisture to British Columbia battling with cold air masses moving down from the north. As a result, the weather has been cold and moist. Precipitation in March was above average for most areas of British Columbia. Weather patterns are consistent with the moderate-strong La Niña cycle currently being observed.

Snowpack
Basin snow water indices for BC at March 1 vary from a low of 88% of normal in the North Thompson and Okanagan-Kettle basins to a high of 129% of normal on Vancouver Island. Indices have increased slightly for most basins in the province since February, most notably the Upper Fraser, Middle Fraser, Lower Fraser, North Thompson, Nicola, Similkameen, South Coast, Peace and Skeena-Nass. Indices have remained about the same since last month in the South Thompson, Columbia, Okanagan-Kettle and Kootenay, and have decreased in the Nechako and Vancouver Island. Snow water equivalency (SWE) within basins is variable. A wide range of values of SWE is observed particularly in the Upper, Middle and Lower Fraser, and West Kootenay, with a number of proportionally high snow water equivalency measurements being observed at individual snow measurement sites. 

BC Snow Basin Indices – March 1, 2011

Basin % of Normal Basin % of Normal
Upper Fraser 105% Kootenay 99%
Nechako 100% Okanagan-Kettle 88%
Middle Fraser 105% Similkameen 92%
Lower Fraser 120% South Coast 121%
North Thompson 88% Vancouver Island 129%
South Thompson 95% Peace 97%
Nicola 93% Skeena-Nass 97%
Columbia 90%

Outlook
By this date, about 80% of the annual peak BC snowpack has accumulated. In general, the snowpack as of March 1st is at normal levels throughout the province, and does not indicate extraordinary conditions for potential flood or drought risk. Above normal snow packs exist in the Lower Fraser, South Coast and Vancouver Island, however high snow packs are not generally associated extreme spring peak flows in these regions. High snow basin indices in the South Coast and Vancouver Island regions should allow for sustained flows through the summer period, and decrease the risk of extreme low flow conditions in the late summer. Increases in snow pack in north-eastern BC, Skeena-Bulkley, and Middle Fraser over the past month are beneficial for replenishing diminished groundwater, lake and reservoir storage in the regions after extremely dry conditions last summer.

For more information go to the River Forecast Centre web site:

» http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/bulletins/watersupply/current.htm
October 20, 2010

Livestock Tax Deferral Designations

British Columbia food producers suffering from drought conditions are getting help from the Government of Canada’s tax deferral program. The tax deferral allows eligible producers in designated areas to defer income tax on the sale of breeding livestock for one year to help replenish breeding stock in the following year.

See the news release for additional information:

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October 5, 2010

Water Supply and Streamflow Conditions

Precipitation in British Columbia for September was average or well above average throughout most of the province. In the Peace region, one exception is Mackenzie, which was slightly below average at 81% of normal. With the exception of the Halfway River, all rivers in the Peace have recovered to median or above median levels. The Halfway River is currently at a 5-year low flow the date (Drought Level 2). All other rivers in B.C. are at median or well above median levels for this time of year (Drought Level 1), and there are no areas of concern for low flow conditions.

» Drought Levels