Snowpack Near Normal

Friday, January 11, 2008 11:02 AM

The first snowpack report of the year shows the Nechako Upper Fraser and Skeena river basins are near normal for this time of year.

When the data was gathered, just under half of the peak snowpack for the year had accumulated. The near normal or above normal snow accumulation in many areas provides a favourable outlook for spring & summer streamflow and water-supply. However, the below normal snow conditions in the Okanagan and Kettle basins of the south-central interior suggest the possibility for below normal streamflow and water-supply in those areas this summer.

Upper Fraser & Nechako Basins

The snow water index for the Upper Fraser is 97% of normal for January 1st, well below last year’s level of 128%. Low elevation snow is generally near or slightly above normal (e.g., Prince George A = 103%, Burns Lake = 148%), while mid and high elevation snow is slightly below normal. The high elevation Upper Fraser snow pillows are averaging 84% of normal.
The Nechako snow water index is 95% of normal, well below last year’s level of 174%. The Mount Pondosy (1B08P), Mount Wells (1B01P) and Tahtsa Lake (1B02P) snow pillows are all 88-89% of normal. The Skins Lake snow course (1B05) is 145%.

Middle and Lower Fraser

The Middle Fraser has a January 1st snow water index of 101% of normal. The Chilcotin and Fraser Plateau areas appear to have below normal snow (e.g., Nazko (1C08) = 82%, Big Creek (1C21) = 47%). Southern portions of the Middle Fraser are above normal (e.g., Downton Lake (1C38) = 141%, Green Mountain (1C12P) = 112%, Bridge Glacier Lower (1C39) = 109%).

Following a cool and wet December, the Lower Fraser snow water index for January 1st is 105% of normal. Wolverine Creek (1D13) is 144%, while the Chilliwack River (1D17P), Great Bear (1D15P) and Tenquille Lake (1D06P) snow pillows are 103%, 98%, and 119%, respectively.

Thompson Basin

The Thompson River basin has above normal snow water conditions at January 1st. The North Thompson snow water index is 129% of normal, while the South Thompson index is 110%. Low elevation snow appears to be near normal for the date.

In the North Thompson basin, the Blue River (1E01B) snow course is 98% of normal, and the Azure River (1E08P) and Kostal Lake (1E01P) snow pillows are 115% and 122%, respectively.

In the South Thompson basin, Enderby (1F04) is 118% of normal. The Park Mountain (1F03P) snow pillow is currently not operating. The Celista Mountain (1F06P) snow pillow located north of Shuswap Lake is estimated to be near 106% of normal.

In the Nicola basin, Lac Le Jeune Upper (1C25) is 61% of normal.

North East Region

Precipitation in the Peace has been above normal for November and December, and, so, snow accumulations have been generally greater than normal. The snow water index for the Peace River basin is 102% of normal at January 1st, well below last year’s level of 143%. Individual snow survey sites ranging from a low of 84% at Aiken Lake (4A30P) and Tutizzi Lake (4A06), to a high of 124% at Mount Sheba (4A18) and 127% at Lady Laurier Lake (4A07).
Precipitation in the Liard River basin was below normal during November and December. For the Liard basin, snow water equivalencies range between 56% and 94%, with a basin average of 81%.

North West Region

The Skeena/Nass basins have a snow water index of 103% of normal for January 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 84%. The Lu Lake (4B15P) and Tsai Creek (4B17P) snow pillows are 123% and 120% of normal, respectively.

Based on a very limited survey, the Stikine basin appears to be below normal. The Kinaskan Lake (4D11P) and Wade Lake (4D14P) snow pillows are 65% and 107% of normal, respectively.

Columbia Basin

The Columbia basin snow index is 116% of normal, with much greater snow in the Upper Columbia than the Lower Columbia. For the Upper Columbia, most snow courses are in the 100-125% of normal range, with a low of 83% for Kicking Horse (2A07) and a high of 131% for Goldstream (2A16). For the Lower Columbia, most snow courses are in the 75-93% range, with a low of 75% for Record Mountain (2B09) and a high of 93% for the St. Leon Creek snow pillow (2B08P).

Kootenay Basin

Cranbrook, the Kootenay indicator climate station, received 119% of normal precipitation during November and December. The overall Kootenay snow water index is 97% of normal. For the East Kootenay, values for individual snow survey sites range from a low of 65% at Thunder Creek (2C17) to a high of 106% at the Floe Lake snow pillow (2C14P). For the West Kootenay values are higher, ranging from 82% at Nelson (2D04) to 120% at East Creek (2D08P). Low elevation snow is above normal in the West Kootenay but below normal in the East Kootenay.

Okanagan, Kettle, and Similkameen Basins

The overall January 1 snow water index of 81% for the Okanagan-Kettle is well below normal. Mount Kobau (2F12) in the far south Okanagan is only 50% of normal for the date. The Summerland Reservoir (2F02) and Greyback Reservoir (2F08) snow courses are 87% and 65% of normal, respectively. The Brenda Mines (2F18P) snow pillow on the west side of the Okanagan valley is 94%. The Mission Creek (2F05P) snow pillow east of Kelowna is estimated to be 89% of normal (the gauge was not operating at the beginning of January). In the Kettle River drainage, the Grano Creek (2E07P) snow pillow is 83% and Monashee Pass (2E01) is 84%.

Western portions of the Similkameen valley have near normal snow conditions while eastern portions appear to be well below normal (similar to adjacent areas of the southern Okanagan) The overall January 1st snow water index is 89% of normal. The Blackwall Peak (2G03P) snow pillow is currently 100%.

Vancouver Island & Coastal Regions

Snow packs on the Vancouver Island and Coastal regions are above normal as of January 1st. The Vancouver Island snow water index is 111% of normal, while the South Coast index is 113% of normal. Precipitation on Vancouver Island and the Coast was well below normal for November but generally well above normal (and cool) for December, with a series of cold Pacific frontal storms. On Vancouver Island, the Jump Creek (3B23P) snow pillow and Wolf River Lower snow course (3B19) are 117% and 100% of normal, respectively, at January 1st. On the South Coast, the Grouse Mountain (3A01) and Dog Mountain (3A10) snow courses are 154% and 144%, respectively. The Upper Squamish (3A25P) snow pillow is 92% of normal. Low and mid elevation snow on Vancouver Island and the South Coast are well above normal for the date, reflecting the wet and cool December.

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