Drought conditions improve in some Interior basins

The cooler and wetter weather has improved drought conditions somewhat in the Interior.

As of Thursday, Oct. 26, the Lower Thompson and North Thompson basins were ranked at Level 2 which, according to the B.C. River Forecast Centre, indicated adverse impacts due to conditions to socio-economic and ecosystem values are “unlikely.”

Those basins had improved from the previous week when they were ranked Level 3.

Meanwhile, the Lower Columbia, Coldwater River and West Kootenay basins were ranked at Dought Level 3, down from Level 4 the previous week. Under Drought Level 3, adverse impacts to socio-economic and ecosystem values “are possible,” though are not “likely” as they are under Level 4.

As of Thursday, the Okanagan basin was still the ranked at Level 2, while the South Thompson, Salmon River and Upper Columbia basins were ar Level 3. Those rankings were all unchanged on a weekly basis.

Additionally, the Nicola, Similkameen, Kettle and East Kootenay basins were all unchanged and still ranked at Level 4 at last report.