The River Forecast Centre has ended it high streamflow advisory for the Bulkley River, including small streams and tributaries around Houston, Telkwa, Smithers and surrounding areas
Peak levels on rivers through the region occurred over the weekend in response to heavy rain last week. Weather has improved, and river levels are receding and expected to continue to improve through this week.
Cool and wet weather through April has led to a significant increase in snowpack conditions across the province, with the biggest increases being observed in south and southeast B.C.
This has been pronounced by a delay in the onset of the snow melt season by about two weeks in most regions of the province. Snow basin indices for May 1 range from a low of 58 per cent of normal in the northwest to a high of 147 per cent of normal in the Okanagan.
Below-normal snowpack (65-80 per cent) is present in the Upper Fraser and Peace, and well below-normal (<65 per cent) in the Stikine, Liard and Northwest. Slightly elevated snowpacks (110-120 per cent) are present in the Middle Fraser, North Thompson, South Thompson, Upper Columbia and Skagit, and elevated (>120 per cent) in the Lower Fraser, West Kootenay, East Kootenay, Okanagan, Boundary, Similkameen and South Coast. Other areas of the province have near-normal May 1 snow basin indices. The May 1 basin index for the entire Fraser Basin is 108 per cent of normal. Provincially, snow measurements have increased significantly, with the provincial average for all May 1 snow measurements at 118 per cent of normal. This has increased from the average of 98 per cent for April 1.
Elevated seasonal flood risk is present through the West Kootenay, East Kootenay, Similkameen, Okanagan and Boundary. Decreased seasonal flood risk is present in the Upper Fraser, Peace, Stikine, Liard and Northwest. Other areas of the province are entering into the spring freshet with normal levels of seasonal flood risk.
