The latest snowpack numbers around the Prince George area are a mixed bag.
According to BC River Forecast Centre Hydrologist, Jonathan Boyd, the snowpack in the Upper Fraser East Basin saw a significant increase in snowpack, and the basin is at 129% of normal.
On the other side of Prince George, the Upper Fraser West is only at 103% of normal the normal snowpack.
Boyd there is some concern for flooding in the area, but not in the immediate future.
“Usually the earliest you might start to see flooding occurring is early April, and it might be areas around the Chilako River, or the Salmon River near Prince George, just the low elevation sites,” Boyd explained.
“Getting into the Robson Valley, just because of the high elevation side of things, the likelihood of reaching flood flow on the Fraser River itself might not be until at least late May.”
Boyd says Environment Canada’s long-term seasonal forecast shows March, April, and May, are expected to be below normal temperature wise, and some areas, including the Upper Fraser East may have a wetter period.
“That’s two situations that’s not the best scenario for the Upper Fraser,” Boyd said.
“Ideally, what we’d like to see, from the flood side of things, is no more precipitation, and then periods of time where it gets warm for a few days and cooler for a few days.”
Boyd added that the Upper Fraser was one of four locations in the province that experienced an an extraordinary melt-rate because there was still snow at higher elevations during the heat-dome last year.
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