Late melt leaves twice normal snowpack across B.C. for mid-June

Jun 17, 2022 | 9:56 AM

KAMLOOPS — Further evidence of the tardiness of B.C.’s spring snowmelt is part of Friday’s (June 17) Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin from the B.C. River Forecast Centre (BCRFC).

The provincial flood forecasting agency says the melt is two-to-four weeks behind schedule this year, thanks to cool weather throughout the spring. That has led to an average snowpack for June 15 across B.C. of 198 per cent of normal.

Some of the regional snow basin indices show even more dramatic readings. In the North Thompson basin, snowpack is at 232 per cent of normal for June 15. The South Thompson basin is lower — but still nearly twice as high as normal for this time of year at 186 per cent.

The BCRFC says by June 15, about 75 per cent of the snow accumulation from the winter has typically melted. This year, the proportion is closer to 50 per cent.

Late melt leaves twice normal snowpack across B.C. for mid-June

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