Vernon Matters file photo

By Liam Verster

Drought Level 1

Rain helps keep drought conditions fairly low

Jul 4, 2024 | 12:30 PM

For the fifth week in a row, the Okanagan’s drought conditions remain at the low end of the spectrum.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre says the Okanagan Basin was at Drought Level 1 as of July 4, meaning adverse impacts to socio-economic and ecosystem values due to conditions would be rare.

The province uses a six-level classification (0-5) to rate the severity of drought conditions using core indicators like stream flow and precipitation.

The region’s level being kept at Level 1 for the fifth consecutive week comes after some rain was recorded throughout the area over the previous week. Vernon saw 10.4 millimetres of precipitation in the seven days leading up to July 4, while Kelowna recorded 8mm, Penticton had 5.2mm, and Osoyoos recorded 5.3mm of precipitation over the week.

The weekly drought rating report noted the South Thomson and Lower Thompson were also at Level 1 for their second week in a row, while the North Thompson also recorded it’s fifth week at Level 1. The other basins within the Southern Interior were recorded at Level 2, where adverse impacts would be unlikely.

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Meanwhile, the conditions in the northeastern section of B.C. remained improved from earlier in the spring.

East Peace’s conditions were rated at Level 4 on July 4, marking the second consecutive week at the second highest rating level. The East Peace had been at Level 5 since reporting began in the week ending May 2.

The North Peace and Fort Nelson basins were at Level 3 for the second straight week as well.

The only regions at the lowest rating of Level 0 as of July 4 were the Haida Gwaii, Northwest and Stikine basins.