The El Niño conditions BC has experienced this winter have resulted in “extremely” low snow conditions, according to the province.
The first snowpack numbers of the season were released Wednesday and show that the provincial snowpack is averaging 56% of normal levels seen on Jan. 1.
Snowpack numbers are sitting at an average of 44% below normal levels, which is more than half the levels recorded on Jan. 1, 2023, where the provincial average was sitting at 82%.
However, the province’s Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin says there are still three or more months left in the snow accumulation season and the snowpack can still change “significantly.”
“Snow Basin Indices (SBI) for January 1st, 2024 ranged from a low of 0% of normal in the Chilcotin and Skagit to a high of 96% in the Stikine,” the province says, adding that the Stikine region is the only basin recording values higher than the previous year.
There were only two basins above 80% normal; the Stikine and Nechako regions in the northwest.

The Upper Fraser West is at 35% of normal, the Upper Fraser East is at 63% and the Middle Fraser, which includes the Lower Thompson basin, is at 50% of normal levels.
The north and south Thompson basins are at 60% and 73% of normal, respectively.
The Boundary basin is at 58%, while the Okanagan is at 64% and the Similkameen is at 32%.
Last year, on Jan. 1, the Lower Thompson basin was at 200% of normal levels while the Okanagan and Boundary regions were at 135% and 129%, respectively, which meant they had the highest snowpack levels in BC.
The Lower Fraser basin is at 35% and Vancouver Island is at 39% of normal levels.
By early January, nearly half of the annual BC snowpack typically accumulates but for the second year in a row, a significant drought extended into the fall for much of the province.
The bulletin says October was drier and warmer than normal but conditions were near normal in November.
In early December, there was an atmospheric river event on the coast and in the Interior, but temperatures were “extremely” warm relative to normal and lower-than-normal precipitation was recorded.
An "arctic outbreak" is descending on the province starting on Tuesday and will bring frigid temperatures to many parts of the province, however, not much precipitation is expected.
“Due to the extremely low snow conditions, below normal hazard for spring freshet related flooding is emerging, especially in the Interior,” the province says.
Although there are still a couple more months for snow to accumulate, the early numbers could significantly affect ongoing drought concerns into the summer.
The next Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin is scheduled to be released on Feb. 8.
Thumbnail photo credit: 123rf