Snowpack at zero per cent, big change from one year ago

This does not bode well for the wildfire season.

The snowpack in the Okanagan is virtually at zero percent of normal according to the latest report from the River Forecast Centre.

It’s attributed to an extremely rapid melt during the heatwave in May.

By comparison, at this time a year ago, the snowpack was at 153 per cent of normal.

“As of June 1st, the provincial snow pack was substantially below normal, averaging 29 per cent across B.C. (down from 66 per cent on May 15),” the River Forecast Centre report stated.  “The hottest May on record for B.C. generated extremely rapid melt of the provincial snowpack. Many mid and high-elevation automated snow weather stations measured record low snow for June 1st or recorded the earliest snow free date of the season.”

(Image credit: River Forecast Centre)