Okanagan Falls flood gates (Photo 31195811 © Vismax | Dreamstime.com)

By Kevin Rothwell

Lots of snow at high elevation

Okanagan Lake draw down begins as snowpack increases

Feb 3, 2021 | 2:06 PM

Water has started to be released from Okanagan Lake at the South end of the valley in anticipation of a continued higher than average snowpack this winter.

“It’s still anyone’s guess as to what the situation will be, but increased flows have started (Monday, Feb. 1),” Dr. Anna Warwick Sears, executive director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board, said.

All three major valley snowpack locations are above average as of Jan. 26, according to the River Forecast Centre.

The Brenda Mines ‘snow pillow’ is 133 per cent of normal, Mission Creek is 140 per cent and Silver Star is 124 per cent of normal.

Snow Pillow Graph (photo / B.C. River Forecast Centre)

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According to the River Forecast Centre, high snow conditions are likely to continue this year.

“There is a 95 per cent likelihood that La Niña conditions will persist through the winter/spring months. Typically, La Niña years result in cooler and wetter weather conditions for B.C. The overall impact of La Niña on snow can be variable, but on average, areas in the southern portion of the province tend to have higher than normal Apr. 1, 2021 snow basin indices.”

The next full report from the forecast centre will be Feb. 9, 2021.