‘About as bad as it could be:’ scarce snow increasing mid-Island drought concerns

Nanaimo is coming off one of the warmest and driest Aprils on record, with the mid-Island already breaking daily high-temperature records to start off May.

Province-wide, the story is less severe this year, with 83 per cent of mountain snow remaining on May 1, a decrease of 11 per cent from April 1.

The May 1 report shows a clear divide in mountain snowpack levels throughout the province, with the north having potential flooding concerns, while the central and southern areas are worried about possible drought conditions. (Image Credit: Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stweardship.)

The report said B.C. typically reaches maximum snow accumulation levels by mid-April, with snowmelt trending earlier than normal, with 15 per cent of peak total snowpack melting by May 1, and approximately 28 per cent by May 7.

The contrast of mountain snow levels is sharp between different areas of B.C., with the Lower Thompson and Upper Fraser West reporting zero per cent of their mountain snowpack levels, while the Liard region around Fort Nelson is at 380 per cent of normal.

Boyd said 2015 was a benchmark drought year for Vancouver Island, with only around 15 per cent of mountain snow remaining on April 1.

While we’re not at those concerning levels yet, Boyd is hoping for a few major rainfall events in May, or perhaps a wet and cool ‘Juneuary’ to replenish the islands’ water reservoirs.

“But right now, in terms of the baseline…conditions as we move into the spring and summer, this is about as bad as it could be. The only thing that would be worse is if the snowpack was even worse and lower, and if the temperatures were even warmer.”

He said stream and creek water levels are very low right now, raising drought concerns as we look ahead at the summer months.

“Traditionally, Vancouver Island rivers and creeks get to their lowest in late-July through August and September, and that’s where they’re most at-risk for ecosystem habitat where fish aren’t able to sustain, literally their lives, just because the temperature of creeks can get so warm when water is shallow, and air temperature is hot.”

Low snowpack levels, early snowmelt, and warm seasonal weather forecasts are increasing drought concerns for the Island, as well as on the southern coast and in the southern interior.

— with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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by Jordan Davidson

‘About as bad as it could be:’ scarce snow increasing mid-Island drought concerns

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