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B.C. Flood

Alpine snowpack still above normal, flood risk remains elevated: province

May 8, 2020 | 1:37 PM

VICTORIA — While much of the low- and mid-elevation snowpack has melted already, there is still plenty of water yet to come down from the alpine.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre has released its May 1 Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin. It shows the provincial snow picture at 106 per cent of normal.

The bulletin notes weather was mostly dry and mild in April, meaning little new accumulation and a normal amount of melt.

Regionally, totals around Kamloops are similar to those seen in the April 1 update.

The North Thompson basin shows snowpack totals at 118 per cent of normal, with the South Thompson at 124 per cent. Both of those regions are up one basis point from the previous update.

The Nicola region is at 95 per cent of normal, with the Okanagan at 110 per cent.

The Forecast Centre says the entire Fraser River basin is still at 110 per cent of normal.

The bulletin notes forecasts from Environment Canada point to a warmer-than-normal three months beginning in May.

It says the flood risk is increased in many areas throughout the B.C. Interior, in cluding the North and South Thompson basins.

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