Growers across the province have been pinning their hopes on winter delivering the hit of moisture needed to address last summer’s dry conditions. The Peace region entered winter at Level 5 drought for the second year in a row, while four of the province’s 34 basins – the Upper Fraser East and West, the Kettle …
drought
Snowpack sends mixed signals
The latest data from the BC River Forecast Centre is a mixed blessing for growers concerned about a dry start to the season. The province’s April 1 snow and water supply bulletin indicates that the provincial snow pack decreased to slightly below normal for April 1 to 88% versus 94% a month earlier. The snow …
Senate flood report released
This fall’s rains started late and have yet to put a significant dent in the ongoing drought affecting much of the province this year. Eight of the province’s 34 basins remain ranked Level 5, the most severe drought level, with a further six ranked Level 4. By this time last year, the province had received …
Dry fall, wet winter ahead
A long, dry fall may be just what many growers caught out by the late spring wanted, but the warm, sunny weather prompted provincial authorities to raise the drought rating in many parts of the province to the highest level last week. The Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Western Vancouver Island are all now at …
Drought fears washed away
A year after a historic heat dome sent temperatures soaring, all of BC is at drought level 0 on the province’s six-level drought scale. An abundance of moisture and cool temperatures this year has made it a washout for drought. A year ago, six basins were already at drought level 3 and the Salmon River …
Ranchers face rangeland losses
Ranchers in areas hit hard by last year’s heat dome, wildfires and drought shouldn’t count on rushing out on their rangeland this summer, cautions a professional agrologist. Chris Wellman, a fence contractor and former range agrologist with the Vernon Forest District, says many herds may need to stick close to home this season pending an …