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By Victor Kaisar

Drought Levels

Kamloops-area drought rating on the rise after unseasonable spell of warm weather

Sep 11, 2025 | 1:18 PM

KAMLOOPS — The drought rating in the Kamloops-area is continuing to intensify after the prolonged period of hot and dry weather that began in late August and ended about two weeks later.

According to new data from the B.C. River Forecast Centre, the North Thompson River basin is currently at drought level 2, while the South Thompson River basin is at drought level 1. Both basins were at drought level 0 – the lowest possible level – prior to the heat wave.

The North Thompson basin was previously at drought level 2 from June 26 to July 24, while the South Thompson basin was previously put on drought level 2 on July 10, though it returned back to level 1 the following week.

Drought levels in B.C. as of Sept. 11, 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 in effect at drought level 5. The city has not reached those levels after new year-round water restrictions were implemented last year.

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Elsewhere, the Nicola River basin has been at drought level 3 since July 10, while the South Cariboo and Chilcotin river basins have been at drought level 3 since Aug. 28. The Okanagan River basin was also put on drought level 3, up from level 2 the week before.

The Lower Thompson River basin has been at drought level 1 since Sept. 4, while the Clearwater and Quesnel river basins have been at level 2 since that same date.

“Fish population protection orders are in effect for the Salmon River and Bessette Creek watersheds to protect the survival of endangered Chinook salmon,” the River Forecast Centre said.

“Low flows in many Okanagan tributaries continue to pose a risk to aquatic ecosystems.”

There are two river basins currently at drought level 4 – the Similkameen and the Creston. Creston has been at level 4 since Aug. 28, while the Similkameen has been at that level since July 17.

“[There are] reports of fish stranding and mortality in Okell Creek (Creston),” the agency added. “Flows in the Similkameen River are at record low for this time of year, with reports of fish mortality in a stretch of the river south of the Canada-U.S. border.”

The River Forecast Centre also noted that isolated showers and thunderstorms are possible across the Southern Interior over the next few days, “but no widespread rain [is] anticipated.”

“Moderate rainfall is expected for coastal regions by Thursday, with heaviest amounts over the central coast and northwest Vancouver Island and light spillover into the northwest interior,” the River Forecast Centre said.

The latest data notes there have been notable streamflow declines in southeast, southern and northwest interior of B.C. as precipitation deficits deepen. It also notes there has been slight drought relief in parts of the Bridge and Central and Eastern Pacific Range basins as “glacial inputs boost flows.”

The next release of drought data from the BC River Forecast Centre will be Thursday (Sept. 18),