A map at the various snowpacks across B.C. as of May 1, 2024. (Photo via BC River Forecast Centre)
The B.C. Government is urging people to conserve water as the provincial snowpack across the province continues to remain low as the summer months approach.
New data from the BC River Forecast Centre shows the provincial snowpack sitting at 66 per cent of normal as of May 1 – a slight increase from 63 per cent last month.
It’s still a far cry from last year’s provincial average of 91 per cent, fuelling concerns about a bad fire season and significantly elevated drought hazards.
“Much of the water that B.C. uses come from melting snowpack,” Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen said Thursday.
“Overall B.C. continues to get less rain and snow than usual, and that is having a lasting impact on water levels right across the province. We experienced several drought last year and remain at high risk going into this season.”
Snowpack conditions are a little better in the Kamloops area, with the North Thompson snowpack at 71 per cent of normal – the same as last month – while the South Thompson at 80 per cent of normal – up from 79 per cent.
A look at the various snow indices across B.C. as of May 1, 2024. (Photo via BC River Forecast Centre)
Cullen is urging people to conserve as much water as possible because of the persistent drought conditions, saying every drop counts.
“So our message to British Columbians is that this is serious,” Cullen said. “The snowpack levels – which are a critical part of British Columbia’s ability to have enough water come, well spring, summer, and right through to the fall – are historically low right now.”
“Everyone has a role to play to help save water from the very small efforts to the very big, we have to do these things together. That is why we are calling on everyone to respect the water restrictions that are put in place by local governments, First Nations, or other senior levels.”
The River Forecast Centre says a period of above normal temperatures this weekend will lead to some rapid snowmelt at higher elevations.
However, the overall risk of flooding remains low across most of B.C. because of the low snowpack.
“We’ve had a relatively cool spring but we’re not looking at an inordinate amount of precipitation, Cullen said. “We do hope that more comes and that the spring stays relatively cool.”
You can find the latest data from the BC River Forecast Centre here.
