Image Credit: Government of BC

By Michael Reeve / Q-101 Merritt

SNOWPACK

Government of B.C. delivers first snapshot of alpine snowpack

Jan 12, 2021 | 9:38 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — The first snowpack report of the season has been published by the BC River Forecast Centre, and unsurprisingly basins across the province are above normal levels.

The report is based on measurements taken on January 1, 2021.

The Middle Fraser Basin, which encompassed the Merritt area is currently at 93% of normal, compared to just 66 per cent last year at this time.

River Forecast Centre Hydrologist Jonathan Boyd joined Q101 to breakdown the numbers in the Nicola Valley.

“Most of the province is ahead of last year, however, 2020 had a pretty wet January so that’s when the snowpack would catch up,” said Boyd.

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Only one local station reports snowpack levels in January for the area, that being Lac le Jeune.

“It’s extremely high, it’s at 152 per cent of normal. But take that with a grain of salt because it’s one that is one the lowest snowpack side. The normal is 70 mm of snow, water equivalent and it’s at 106 mm,” added Boyd.

“The Brenda Mine location, it’s in the Okanagan but it’s on the way to the lake on the Connector, it’s at 128% of normal,” said Boyd.

While an exact number for the Nicola is not available, Boyd estimates the area is between 120-130%.

While the numbers are higher than last year at this time, Boyd confirmed it’s too early to begin predicting possible floods.

“Flooding revolves around the weather conditions at that time,” said Boyd. “I think we were pretty lucky last year where we didn’t see the high-pressure ridge where you get rapid melt.”

The River Forecast Centre updates the snowpack figures in BC every month through the winter and into the spring.