Dry January and lower snowpack levels in B.C. raise summer water concerns

The B.C. River Forecast Centre says that a historically dry January in many parts of B.C. means snowpack levels across the province were lower in February than at the start of the year.

And a B.C. hydrologist says if there isn't more precipitation by April, it could impact the water supply.

Officials released a report in January indicating that the snowpack was fairly normal, following historically low levels in 2024 and accompanying drought concerns.

However, the Feb. 1 snowpack report from the River Forecast Centre shows that snowpack levels across the province are around 72 per cent of normal, which is a drop from the 87 per cent recorded in January.

Forecasters attribute the dip in snowpack to a largely precipitation-free January for much of B.C. and say the risk of drought will continue in the province if there isn't much snow accumulation through the rest of the winter.

"Most areas still are relatively healthier than last year," said Jonathan Boyd, a hydrologist with the River Forecast Centre.

"But there are a few areas like the Nechako, the Stikine ... and Chilcotin, Lower Thompson that are actually a little bit lower this year compared to last year."

The Liard basin in northeast B.C. recorded a snowpack level 108 per cent of normal, with the Similkameen basin at 57 per cent of normal.

Boyd says the provincewide snowpack situation likely reduces the risks of snowmelt-induced flooding in the spring and summer — but on the flip side, the risk of drought increases.

"Now that we have seen the snowpack lower for Feb. 1 compared to Jan. 1, there is that greater risk of potential lower water conditions moving into the summer and fall," he said.

"So much does depend on the spring and summer weather conditions in terms of determining whether we are actually in a drought."

Boyd said that the province was still around two-thirds of the way through snow accumulation season, so conditions could still take an uptick by the next snowpack report on March 1.

He said the downturn in snow accumulation was due to a historically dry January.

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The forecast centre says that Abbotsford, Penticton, Kelowna and some other regions posted some of their lowest precipitation totals for the month since record-keeping began.

"Most areas of the province, measured by Environment and Climate Change Canada, [were] in kind of the top 10 driest Januarys on record," Boyd said.

"The only noticeable significant snow accumulation for the whole month of January was just in those final two days."

Water uncertainty 'new reality'

Boyd said that, based on current weather forecasts, B.C. was unlikely to get anywhere near average snowpack levels by April, and it would take historic amounts of snow accumulation between now and then to get there.

Coree Tull, the chair of the B.C. Watershed Security Coalition, likened the snowpack to a savings account, saying accumulated snow during colder months helps provide for water supply during often-dry summers.

Tull's organization advocates for more active watershed management in the form of stream and river maintenance and local watershed governance to help buffer against drought and flood situations.

"Given the new water uncertainty reality in the province, we can't take our water for granted anymore," she told CBC News.

"Whether it's the health of our watersheds or, you know, adequate water supply, it has to be a priority across the province all year long."

Tull says that a lack of appropriate planning for the province's watersheds has led to a cycle of crises, where drought-affected land leads to wildfires and weaker vegetation, which is then followed by flooding and landslides.

"This cycle is going to continue. And so we need to ensure that we've got, you know, the front-line watershed workforce out there, restoring our watersheds, ensuring that they can do their job," she said.

Tull argues that more active watershed maintenance would see the province save money in the long run, as it can shift away from spending billions of dollars on active emergency response and invest in infrastructure instead.

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