Snowpack too big

Threats of spring Áooding continue to grow along with the snowpack in the Okanagan.

On March 1, the snowpack in the Okanagan was at 141 per cent of normal, up from 131 per cent in February and 123 per cent in January, the River Forecast Centre revealed Thursday.

Last March, the Okanagan had a lower-than-normal snowpack at 86 per cent of normal.

The Okanagan currently has the second highest snowpack in the province behind the Similkameen, which is at 144 per cent of normal.

The average snowpack across B.C. on March 1 was 119 per cent, up from 108 per cent in February.

Snowpacks above 135 per cent indicate an increased seasonal risk of Áooding, states the report.

“Given this year’s La Nina conditions, it is unlikely that the risk will ease much prior to the melt season,” the centre said.

Seasonal runoff volumes are well above normal for the Okanagan, and precipitation was well above normal for most of the Interior in February.

Typically, nearly 80 per cent of the annual B.C. snowpack has accumulated by early March.

Environment Canada is predicting an increased likelihood of normal temperatures across B.C. from March to May.

Short- and medium-term forecasts suggest some warming through the end of this week, and a transition to cooler and wetter weather in the middle of the month.