Heavy snowpack may lead to floods

Okanagan snowpack at 131% of normal as February began

The Okanagan could be in for more flooding this spring if the snowpack continues increasing at its current rate.

On Feb. 1, the snowpack in the Okanagan was at 131 per cent of normal, up from 123 per cent in January.

This time last year, the snowpack was at 79 per cent of normal.

“We’re accumulating snow at a much more rapid rate than normal,” said Dave Campbell, head of B.C.’s River Forecast Centre.

Concerns about flooding start when the snowpack is at 123 per cent of normal, he said.

“The direction we’re heading is something to watch, and definitely something we’re a little more concerned about,” said Campbell, adding the higher snowpack could be an early indication of increased seasonal flood risk.

Seasonal volume runoff forecasts are well above normal in the Okanagan, at more than 120 per cent, according to the River Forecast Centre’s latest report.

Although last February’s snowpack level was low, it increased to historic highs over the period of a couple of months and led to severe flooding in the Valley, said Campbell.

“If that pattern plays out again this year . . . then we will be seeing quite significant snowpacks.”

By early February, the province has typically had about two-thirds if its annual snowfall.

The province is currently experiencing an El Nina winter, which is typically associated with cooler temperatures and higher snowpacks.

“We’ve definitely seen a transition in the weather patterns over the last month, and that has led to decent growth in the snowpack across the southern part of the province,” said Campbell. “We expect to see that ongoing buildup of snow.”

The provincial average snowpack for Feb. 1 was 108 per cent of normal, up from 96 per cent on Jan. 1.

The highest snowpack in the province was in the Skagit region, at 165 per cent of normal, and the lowest was in the northwest region, at 51 per cent.

Environment Canada is forecasting an increased likelihood of normal temperatures across southern B.C. from February to April.