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By Victor Kaisar

Drought Levels

Drought ratings on North and South River basin drop to Level 0

Aug 21, 2025 | 3:13 PM

KAMLOOPS — The drought rating in the North and South Thompson River basin has dropped to the lowest possible level, according to new data from the B.C. River Forecast Centre.

It notes the North Thompson River basin is at drought level 0 as Thursday (Aug. 21), and it joins the South Thompson River basin which has been at drought level 0 since last Thursday (Aug. 14).

The two river basins were first put on drought level 1 on June 12 this year. While the South Thompson basin reached drought level 2 on July 10, it returned back to level 1 the following week.

Similarly, the North Thompson basin reached drought level 2 on June 26 and it stayed that way until July 24 when it was downgraded to level 1.

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Drought levels in B.C. as of Aug. 21, 2025. (Image Credit: BC River Forecast Centre)

In Kamloops, enhanced water restrictions kick in if the South Thompson River reaches drought level 4, with more severe restrictions on effect at drought level 5. The city has not reached those levels after new year-round water restrictions were implemented last year.

Elsewhere, the Lower Thompson River basin has also been at drought level 0 since Aug. 14 while the Nicola River basin has been at drought level 3 since July 10.

The Okanagan River basin also dropped to level 0 this week, while the Clearwater River is at level 1. The South Cariboo went from drought level 1 to level 2, while the Chilcotin River basin has been at drought level 2 since July 10 as well.

According to the BC River Forecast Centre, there are 21 basins in the province at level 0 — the lowest on the scale used — and another 11 at drought level 1. Just one basin — the Similkameen River — is at level 4, with four and three basins at level 2 and 3, respectively.

“Recent rainfall brought widespread drought relief across much of the province, especially in coastal areas where precipitation totals were highest,” the latest weekly situation report from the River Forecast Centre said.

“Drought persists in parts of the province, notably the Creston, Similkameen, Nicola and East Peace basins, where some streamflows have shown little recovery despite near-normal precipitation totals.”

Looking ahead, the River Forecast Centre is expecting there to be brief periods of rain in the central coast and north interior. It also notes that prolonged warm and dry conditions will dominate across B.C. starting Thursday and into next week.

In the Kamloops area, Environment Canada is projecting a stretch of at least seven days of above seasonal temperatures starting Friday (Aug. 22), with daytime highs reaching 35 C to 36 C between this Sunday and Wednesday.

“Streamflows are expected to decline with return of warm and dry weather,” the River Forecast Centre added.