Snow packs in northern B.C. continue to pose a risk of flooding, according to the latest report from the River Forecast Centre.
The snow survey on May 15, which was released May 22, shows the snow pack in the Upper Fraser is 167 per cent of normal, and the Nechako is 150 per cent. As well, the Skeena-Nass snow pack is at 158 per cent of normal.
“Despite the warm weather and snow melt at mid-elevations,” the report says, “snow melt has been limited at upper-elevation sites.”
The only area of the province which is not seeing above-average snow packs this spring in the Okanagan-Kettle, which has also seen warmer weather recently, resulting in some runoff.
“Snow packs are still at levels of concern for increased flood risk for the Upper Fraser, Nechako, Columbia, Kootenay, Peace and Skeena-Nass,” the report notes.
The centre expects above-normal seasonal runoff throughout the province, although rivers, in general, are flowing at near-seasonal levels.
The major unknown factor now is the weather. The forecast for Vanderhoof was for warm weather over the weekend, followed by cooler temperatures and precipitation this week.
For more information on the snow-pack situation in the region and across the province, visit bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca.