Risk Significantly Increased – Ministry of Forests and River Forecast Centre
The snow line is still very low and we are experiencing a cooler than normal Spring. The Ministry of Forests as well as the River Forecast center have now issued a bulletin summarizing the increased risk of flooding due to the delayed snowmelt and cooler than normal temperatures. Below is an excerpt of their bulletin:
“Flood Risk has increased considerably due to colder April temperatures across the province and delayed snowmelt. Continued cool weather in May is increasing the risk for major flooding if a prolonged heat wave occurs later in the month or June. Seasonal to below seasonal temperatures were measured for the start of May which has delayed the melt of the well-established snow pack. The major risks over the following two months are an extreme heat event or widespread heavy rainfall events. A combination of intense heat directly followed by heavy rain is a worst-case scenario.
Flooding is a provincial risk every spring due to a combination of snowmelt and/or rainfall (also known as freshet). The weather conditions during spring play a critical role in the rate at which snow melts. Spring weather is impossible to predict with accuracy in advance, and so communities and residents vulnerable to flooding should prepare accordingly; information to Be Preapared for Floods is available from Emergency Management BC.