Prince George, B.C.- The Upper Fraser  snowpack is sitting at 136% of normal  for this time of year.  That’s the latest from the  Provincial River Forecast Centre snow pack data.  Higher than normal snow packs (>120%) are also present in the Liard, Similkameen and Skagit basins. Other regions of the province have near normal (80-120%) snowpack.

The Nechako basin snowpack is below its norm, sitting at 80% of what it typically is at this time of the year and the Skeena-Nass basin is at 85% of norm.

The River Forecast Centre says  that since the middle of April marks the transition between snow accumulation and snow melt,  the latest figures  “are a good  reflection of the overall seasonal snow pack that is available for melt during freshet.”  The Centre predicts higher than normal runoff in the Upper Fraser and Similkameen basins.

Of course the risk of flooding depends on how rapid that melt occurs.  Cooler temperatures will reduce the risk of a rapid melt and the potential for flooding.  The risk increases if there is extreme precipitation or prolonged high temperatures.

Seasonal forecasts from Environment Canada indicate an increased chance of above normal temperatures for the April to June 2014 period through most of the province.