Okanagan’s Drought Rating holding steady

Jul 3, 2025 | 10:32 AM

The Okanagan continues to be ranked at Drought Level 2.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre issued the rating Thursday, July 3, marking the fourth straight week with that ranking.

Level 2 means conditions are beyond abnormally dry, but are still on the lower end of the severity ranking system.

Looking ahead at the short-term forecast, the River Forecast Centre said the Interior and much of southern B.C. was expected to remain dry with little to no precipitation in the coming weeks, which could impact future conditions.

The agency added that “ongoing low flows in many tributaries in the Okanagan continue to pose a risk to aquatic ecosystems.”

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It also stated local water scarcity can affect human or ecological values at any drought rating, though the latest report from Greater Vernon Water stated that reservoir levels were holding steady heading into July.

Elsewhere in the area, the Lower and North Thompson, Bridge, and Nicola areas were all at Level 2 Thursday. The drought rating for the South Thompson was at Level 1, though the Similkameen was at Level 3.

by Liam Verster

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