Overview

• British Columbia’s snowpack was measured at 71% of normal as of May 1, with 15% already melted—triple the typical early May melt rate.
• Key rivers on Vancouver Island, the South Coast, and in northeastern B.C. are flowing at or near record lows for this time of year, intensifying drought concerns.
• Environment Canada forecasts above-normal temperatures through July, with uneven precipitation patterns expected to further strain water resources.
• Snowpack levels in eight basins, including Upper Fraser West and Lower Thompson, are under 60% of normal, with lower-elevation basins seeing earlier melting.
• While snowpack-driven flood risks remain low, heavy rainfall in low-snowpack areas could still trigger localized flooding in the coming months.