For the first time since 2000 . . .

There was no snow to measure at the local monitoring locations reports the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) who measures snow depth and water content as part of its Flood Forecasting and Warning Program.

“For the first time since 2000, all active snow course stations have reported no snow at this time of year. It is the first time the current location of the North Bay station (moved in 2012) and Shirley Skinner station (measurements began in 2006) have recorded no snow before April 1st.”, said Angela Mills, NBMCA Water Resources Specialist. “Snow remains in areas of higher elevation such as above the Laurentian Escarpment and the Algonquin Highlands.”, she added.

NBMCA has changed the way snow survey measurements are compared to historical conditions. With day-to-day differences in snowpack conditions, these changes include reporting a range of normal values that would be expected in most years and communicating a comparison of current measurements relative to these normal conditions. A new Snow Survey web page is available with more snow survey program information and this season's measurements. https://nbmca.ca/watershed-management/snow-survey/

Snow is measured for depth and water equivalence at three locations in the watershed. Staff will continue to monitor landscape conditions and will report if snow is present again for scheduled snow surveys.