As of April 1 the provincial snowpack is extremely low, averaging 63 per cent of normal across B.C. Last year, the provincial average was 88 per cent.
Overall, the provincial snowpack is extremely low for April 1. Nearly all snow basins are at or below 80 per cent of normal, with extremely low snowpack (<60%) persisting in the Upper Fraser East, Quesnel, Chilcotin, Central Coast, South Coast, Skagit, Vancouver Island, Skeena-Nass and Liard.
The only region with near normal snow is the Northwest (105%). Across the province, 28 snow stations are at record low April 1 values (for their respective periods of record). Stations at record lows occur in many basins including Upper Fraser East (1 snow site), Nechako (3), Bridge (1), Quesnel (3), North Thompson (1), South Thompson (1), Upper Columbia (3), West Kootenay (1), Okanagan (2), Peace (4), Skeena-Nass (7) and Liard (1).
The average of all snow measurements for the entire Fraser River basin (e.g., upstream of the Lower Mainland and inclusive of Upper Fraser West, Upper Fraser East, Nechako, Middle Fraser, Lower Fraser, North Thompson, and South Thompson) is 64%, decreasing from 68% on March 1.
The River Forecast Centre calculates an additional SBI for the Fraser River at Hope based on each basin’s contribution to the total annual flow of the river. For example, the Upper Fraser East contributes approximately 30 per cent of the total flow for the Fraser River at Hope, the North Thompson about 16 per cent, the South Thompson about 11 per cent and the Quesnel
approximately per cent. The Fraser River at Hope Snow Basin Index is 61 per cent of normal for April 1, the lowest since 1970, at least. The two previous low years were 1981 (63%) and 1993 (70%).
Compared to last month, SBI values in most regions decreased. The only regions with per cent of normal increases from March 1 to April 1 are the Upper Fraser East, Lower Fraser, South Coast and Vancouver Island. Last year, the April 1 st provincial average was 88% of normal. SBIs are much lower this year in all regions (except the Stikine and Northwest) compared to 2023 due to dry and warm conditions through the snow accumulation season.
The April 1 B.C. average snowpack in 2024 is the lowest since 1970, at least. Based on active stations, and using the 1991-2020 normal period, the five previous low April 1 snowpack levels since 1970 were 2015 (65% of normal),
1981 (68%), 1977 (70%), 1993 (72%), and 2005 (72%). In 2015, extremely low snowpack levels on Vancouver Island and the South Coast significantly skewed the provincial average downward. Despite the extremely low 2024 April 1 SBI values in the southwest (27-53% of normal on Vancouver Island, South Coast and Skagit) these regions were considerably lower
in 2015, their lowest year on record, when April 1 st SBI values ranged from 13-26% of normal.
Below normal spring freshet flood hazard is expected this season due to low snowpack.