Province reports Lower Thompson and Nicola basins well above normal snowpack

VICTORIA — Rapid snowmelt occurred across most of B.C. earlier in May, with two basins near Kamloops well above normal snowpack.

In its latest Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin, using numbers from May 1, the B.C. River Forecast Centre (BCRFC) says the average snowpack across the province is 91 per cent of normal, slightly up from 88 per cent as of April 1.

The Lower Thompson basin remains abnormally high for this time of year at 171 per cent, drastically up from 131 per cent as of April 1. Elsewhere, the Nicola basin is at 150 per cent, up from 109 per cent.

Most other areas in the alpine around Kamloops are low, with the Middle Fraser at 87 per cent of normal, Lower Fraser at 88 per cent, the North Thompson at 82 per cent and the South Thompson at 90 per cent.