Advertisement

Rapid melt diminishes Okanagan snow pack levels

KELOWNA – It’s gone from well above normal to well below in just a month.

The snow pack in the Okanagan mountains has rapidly disappeared because of unusually warm spring weather.

In its May report, the River Forecast Centre says the snowpack is 75 per cent of normal, down from 131 per cent in April.

Breaking news from Canada and around the world sent to your email, as it happens.

In the Similkameen, it’s just 25 per cent whereas last month it was 104 per cent.

But the early and rapid spring runoff doesn’t mean the region will experience drought conditions this summer.

“Extreme wet or dry weather can significantly impact the likelihood of peak and low flows, so although snow packs around the province are low, late spring and summer precipitation will play an important role in determining streamflows” reports the River Forecast Centre.

Story continues below advertisement

The provincial snow pack average on May 1st was 53 per cent of normal.

That’s the lowest it has been since measurements began in 1980.

Sponsored content

AdChoices