Snow is melting earlier and faster than usual across British Columbia as regions brace for another summer of droughts.
The most recent snow survey and water supply bulletin, released in early May, showed the provincial mountain snow pack was at 83 per cent of normal levels as of May 1.
One month earlier, on April 1, the snow pack had been 92 per cent of normal levels.
Around 28 per cent of the total measured snowpack has melted. On average, six per cent of the annual B.C. snowpack is melted by the beginning of May. The long-term precipitation deficits, low snowpack, early snowmelt, and seasonal weather forecasts are increasing drought concerns for many regions, the BC Watershed Security Coalition says.
Vancouver Island, the South Coast and parts of the Southern Interior have the lowest snow pack levels.
On Vancouver Island, the snow pack is 27 per cent of normal. On the South Coast it is 45 per cent of normal. In the Okanagan, it is 31 per cent of normal. The Boundary region is at 53 per cent of normal and the Similkameen is at 61 per cent of normal.
The Central Coast, North Thompson, Skeena-Nass, East Kootenay and West Kootenay regions are relatively close to historical averages, while the Nechako, Northwest Liard and Peace regions are all considerably higher than normal.
“With drought risk rising across much of B.C. due to another year of low snowpack and early melt, water insecurity is becoming the new normal,” said Coree Tull of the BC Watershed Security Coalition.
“This is the fourth consecutive year communities across the province have experienced drought, yet most local governments and communities still lack the resources and tools needed to get ahead of these crises.”
Data for the provincial report comes from 86 manual snow courses and 118 automated snow weather stations around the province, and is compiled by the provincial Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
During April, conditions across much of the province were warm and dry, with limited opportunities for sustained snow accumulation.
Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna and Kamloops all recorded mean monthly temperatures above normal, while in the north, conditions were more variable and temperatures were near normal and cooler than normal.
Precipitation levels were below normal in much of the province, with Abbotsford, Vernon, Williams Lake, Prince Rupert and Smithers recording conditions among the driest on record for the month.
There are concerns for drought this season in many areas of the province, the ministry says.
Low snow pack, early melting and long-term precipitation deficits are factors affecting the risk of drought.
Spring weather will also play a role in summer drought conditions.