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By Corey Fischer
Snowpack On Track

Snowpack On Track

Jan 9, 2019 | 3:23 PM

Officials say the province has near normal snowpack for this time of year, with the average at 96%.

The BC River Forecast Centre says early season snowpack was slow to develop, but has rapidly accumulated since mid December after a dramatic shift in weather patterns, bringing a series of Pacific storms, and significant precipitation, specifically in south-west BC.

“Precipitation anomalies for December were in the 120-160% of normal range in southern BC, and closer to normal in other areas of the province,” says the report.

The Okanagan’s snowpack, as of Jan. 1, is 94% of normal.

The lowest snowpack in the province is the Stikine at 61% of normal, while the high is 109% in three districts including the North Thompson, Upper Fraser West and Upper Fraser East.

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As for the outlook for the rest of winter, the centre says there is still talk of El Nino developing.

“Typically, El Nino is linked to warmer winters across BC. During El Nino, snowpacks tend to be lower than normal, however there has been a large range of variability in BC snowpack during El Nino winters in the past,” says the report.

By early January, nearly half of the annual BC snowpack has typically accumulated.

by Corey Fischer

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