Rivers Still Lower Than Normal

By 250 News

Although there has been significant precipitation throughout November, there is still a concern  rivers are running below normal flow rates.

The latest information from the Ministry of the Environment indicates the Fraser and Thompson Rivers  are still  flowing at low flow levels, and conditions are likely to stay that way until the spring of 2007.  Even with all the  snow, the two rivers have not fully recovered from the dry summer.

Flow in the Fraser at Hope is again near the record low and flow in the Thompson is better, but only to bringing it above the 10 year low flow mark.

As for the snowfall,  snowpack conditions in the south-central interior and Kootenays are varied.  They range from slightly below average to well above average. Snow accumulation in the north has not been as high and snowpack in the north ranges from slightly below to above average.

Despite the  recent heavy snowfalls,  the predictions are that  with El Nino in the south Pacific,  the province will continue to be impacted by that system until will into the spring of 2007.  While  there may be piles of snow in Prince George, the outlook suggests  we will have a warmer than average winter, with  drier than average conditions, meaning drier than normal winter and spring.  That may well put the rivers into all time low levels following the spring thaw.

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