Prince George, B.C.- Although there was significant precipitation in  February,  the snowpack in the  Upper East  and West Fraser and Nechako basins  remains below  the norm for this time of year.

The latest  snow survey by the River Forecast Centre  indicates the snowpack in  the Upper Fraser West to be 85% of normal,   in the Upper Fraser East it was 77% of normal,  and in the  Nechako  basin  it  was 73% of normal.

There are also  below normal snowpacks in the  Skeena-Nass  and Stikine basins.

It is still too early to say  if  the lower snowpack will translate  to reduced  risk of flooding  as  heavy  rainfall  and  rapid, sustained temperature climbs  also  play  an important role.

What the River Forecast Centre can say,  is  that  milder temperatures, mid-season melt and the rainfall through the last month, mean that most rivers in the province have experienced well above normal runoff over the past one to two months. “Snow melt runoff that typically flows later in the season has already passed through their watersheds” says the report. The early increased runoff could mean the spring freshet will take place earlier than normal,   and that may lead to an earlier   start to the low flow season.