File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Weather Watch

Wetter August, La Niña winter won’t be enough to reverse drought situation in Kamloops area: Environment Canada

Oct 4, 2024 | 11:33 AM

KAMLOOPS — A wetter-than-normal August and a potential La Niña winter are unlikely to cause significant improvements for the prolonged drought situation in Kamloops and area.

According to Environment Canada, Kamloops experienced slightly warmer temperatures in August and September. While Kamloops received 39 millimetres of precipitation in August — 166 per cent normal — it was followed by 14 millimetres of precipitation in September, which is 47 per cent normal.

Speaking to CFJC Today, Environment Canada meteorologist Ken Dosanjh notes the drought signal Kamloops and area has been experiencing dates to 2015. He adds the region will need to experience anomalies such as above-normal precipitation throughout all four seasons to reverse the drought situation.

“In terms of drought overall for the province, we are definitely faring better than we were last year,” Dosanjh says. “This year has been a little more seasonal. We’ve seen some relief in terms of drought impacts, but because we are focusing on a multi-year event, we still need lots of more precipitation to really set us back down to what used to be normal.”

Environment Canada is expecting above-normal temperatures for Kamloops and the southern Interior in October. Looking at the long range, Dosanjh says there’s a 71 per cent chance of a La Niña winter to occur, meaning cooler temperatures, wetter conditions, increased snowpack and more precipitation.

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However, if a La Niña were to occur, Dosanjh says it’s expected to be relatively weak.

“The cycle is nudging the scale toward a cooler and wetter winter than tipping the scale that one would expect with a full-on La Niña,” Dosanjh says. “We’ll get more information in mid-October.”

As of Oct. 3, B.C.’s drought and watershed watch map shows the North and Lower Thompson basins are experiencing Drought Level 0 conditions while the South Thompson is experiencing Drought Level 1 and the Nicola is experiencing Drought Level 3.