P.G. Snowpack 169% of Norm
By 250 News
Thursday, April 09, 2009 12:12 PM
Prince George, B.C.- As of April 1, the snowpack in the Prince George region was 169% of normal, leading experts to say there is a possibility of flooding along the Upper Fraser river.
The report also indicates the lower than normal snowpack throughout other areas could spell lower than normal lake and river levels, especially in high tourist areas.
Here are the highlights of the monthly report:
Upper Fraser & Nechako Basins
The Upper Fraser snow index is 119% of normal, increased significantly from 109% at Mar 1st. Most snow courses across a range of elevations are above or well above normal, following a snowy March. Burns Lake (1A16) is 130% of normal, Prince George A (1A10) is 169%, and Pacific lake (1A11) is 136%, indicative of the heavy snow conditions at low elevation throughout the Upper Fraser. Hedrick Lake (1A14) and Revolution Creek (1A17P) are 138% and 119%, respectively, indicative of the heavy snowpack in the McGregor River portion of the Upepr Fraser.
The Nechako snow water index is 105% of normal, nearly unchanged from Mar 1st, and with abundant variability across the basin. The Mount Pondosy (1B08P), Tahtsa Lake (1B02P) and Mount Wells (1B01P) snow pillows are 80%, 97%, and 122% of normal, respectively. The lower elevation Skins Lake snow course (1B05) is 81%.
The Nechako snow water index is 105% of normal, nearly unchanged from Mar 1st, and with abundant variability across the basin. The Mount Pondosy (1B08P), Tahtsa Lake (1B02P) and Mount Wells (1B01P) snow pillows are 80%, 97%, and 122% of normal, respectively. The lower elevation Skins Lake snow course (1B05) is 81%.
Middle and Lower Fraser
The Middle Fraser has an April 1st snow water index of 85% of normal, increased significantly from 71% at Mar 1st. The Chilcotin and Fraser Plateau areas have above normal snow (e.g., Nazko (1C08) = 177%, Big Creek (1C21) = 175%). The Cariboo Mountain area has above normal snow (e.g., Horsefly Mountain (1C13A) = 128%; Yanks Peak (1C41P) = 113%). However, southern portions of the Middle Fraser are well below normal (e.g., Green Mountain (1C12P) = 52%, Bridge Glacier Lower (1C39) = 39%, Mission Ridge (1C18P) = 72%).
The Lower Fraser snow water index for Apr 1st is well below normal, at only 65% (increased from 54% at Mar 1st). Dickson Lake (1D16) and Stave Lake (1D08) on the north side of the Lower Fraser valley are 93% and 72% of normal, respectively. In the Lillooet River basin, the high elevation Tenquille Lake (1D06P) is 65%. The Tenquille Lake value is the lowest in the past 10 years. The Chilliwack River (1D17P) and Wahleach (1D09P) snow pillows, located south of the Fraser River, are 97% and 69%, respectively
North West Region
The Skeena/Nass basins have a snow water index of 116% of normal for April 1st, increased from 112% at Mar 1st. For the two snow courses with the longest periods of record, Hudson Bay Mountain (4B03A), located near Smithers, is 103%, and Johanson Lake (4B02), located in the north-east corner of the basin, is 118%. Granduc Mine (4B12P) located near the west side of the Nass basin is 128%. The Lu Lake (4B15P) and Tsai Creek (4B17P) snow pillows are 106% and 105% of normal, respectively.Snow conditions in the Bulkley River portion of the Skeena basin appear to be near normal, with Mount Cronin (4B08) at 87% and Tachek Creek (4B06) at 109%.
Snow conditions in the Stikine basin are well above normal, at 135%. The Kinaskan Lake (4D11P) and Wade Lake (4D14P) snow pillows are 150% and 132% of normal, respectively. The Iskut (4D02) snow course is 161%.
North East Region
Precipitation in the Peace River basin was above normal for March, and its snow water index has increased to 109% of normal at Apr 1st, from 104% at Mar 1st. Most snow courses are in the 95 - 125%, with a low of 91% at Tsaydaychi Lake (4A12) to a high of 154% at Pulpit Lake (4A09). Low elevation snow courses such as Fort St. John A (4A25) and Ware Lower (4A04) are well above normal, at 143% and 145%, respectively.
Precipitation in the Liard River basin has been well above normal for much of the winter. As a result, the Liard basin has well above normal snowpacks. For the Liard basin, snow water equivalencies range between 177% at Fort Nelson A (4C05) and 129% at Deadwood River (4C15), with a basin average of 135%.
Precipitation in the Liard River basin has been well above normal for much of the winter. As a result, the Liard basin has well above normal snowpacks. For the Liard basin, snow water equivalencies range between 177% at Fort Nelson A (4C05) and 129% at Deadwood River (4C15), with a basin average of 135%.
Thompson Basin
The North Thompson snow water index is 95% of normal, increased from 88% at Mar 1st, while the South Thompson index is 86%.
In the North Thompson basin, the Knouff Lake (1E05) snow course is 108% of normal, and the Azure River (1E08P) and Kostal Lake (1E01P) snow pillows are 83% and 97%, respectively. Blue River (1E01B) at the north end of the basin is 131% of normal. In the South Thompson basin, Enderby (1F04) is 86% of normal. The Park Mountain (1F03P) snow pillow is 94%. The Celista Mountain (1F06P) snow pillow located north of Shuswap Lake is estimated to be near 81% of normal. Adams River (1E07) is 78%.
The Nicola basin has well below normal snow conditions. Lac Le Jeune Upper (1C25) is 77% of normal, and Brenda Mine (2F18), adjacent to the east edge of the Nicola basin, is only 69%. Brookmere (1C01) is only 55%.
Other areas
in the Kettle, Similkameen, Nicola and Kootenay basins and along the South Coast, snowpack remains between 67-80 per cent of normal. The current below-normal snow conditions in the Okanagan, Kettle, Similkameen, Nicola and Kootenay basins, and on Vancouver Island and the South Coast, suggest the likelihood of below-normal streamflow and water supply during the summer. For Okanagan Lake, the April-July volume runoff forecast is 52 per cent of the long-term average; for the Similkameen River, it is 62 per cent of the long-term average.
The low snowpack and smaller than normal snowmelt runoff may translate into lower than normal lake and reservoir levels, lower than normal recharge of groundwater aquifers, and lower than normal river levels
during a summer.
Previous Story - Next Story
Email
Print
Facebook
Twitter
Digg
Del.icio.usReturn to Home
Posted by: He spoke on April 9 2009 12:42 PM