Prince George, B.C.- The snowpack in the Upper Fraser basin is now 103% of its normal level for this time of year.

 

The latest report from the River Forecast Centre also notes the Nechako basin level is at 80% of its normal level for this time of year.

 

The snowpack is one factor in trying to calculate the risk of flooding during the spring freshet.   A sudden onset of warm weather combined with a higher than normal snowpack would increase the risk of flooding.

Environment Canada is predicting higher than normal precipitation and below normal temperatures across the province from March through May. While the short term forecasts predict “a moderately intense storm cycle” into mid March.

 

So with wetter and cooler weather in the forecast, the River Forecast Centre says there could be a ”modest increase in snow pack levels”, but that for most of the province, flood risk should be “normal”.

 

Near-normal seasonal flow is expected through most of the province including the Upper Fraser, with the River Forecast Centre saying “slightly lower than normal seasonal runoff is  expected in the Nechako, Middle Fraser (Chilcotin), Nicola, and Skeena-Nass basins.”