Kelowna News

While the warm weather the past few months has meant a pleasant winter, the province says that could mean water shortages for the Okanagan.

Environment Minister Barry Penner says the past two months have seen a decrease in normal snowpacks, with the Okanagan's snowpack at about 85 per cent of normal.

"In the case of the (Okanagan), current snow conditions suggest the potential to redevelop conditions similar to the 2009 summer drought, which resulted in very low river levels, with reduced lake, reservoir and groundwater storage in the South Interior and in other parts of the province," says Penner in a press release.

Penner says B.C. is currently in the grip of a moderate to strong El Niño, a large ocean current that brings warmer, drier weather for winter. Monday's cooler and wetter weather is welcome, but unless there are significant spring rains, water reservoirs will not reach normal levels.

Snowpacks in all major river basins across B.C. are below normal, varying from a low of 65 per cent of normal in the East Kootenay basin to a high of 95 per cent of normal in the North Thompson. In most areas, low-elevation snow is generally absent and mid-elevation snow throughout Interior valleys is well below normal.

Penner says the bright side is the low likelihood of freshet runoff, meaning a low risk for flooding in the major river basins in B.C.

For additional information, including a summary of snow pillow data and
conditions, and graphs of snow-water equivalents, go to the Environment BC website.

Link: Environment BC website