This Winter is far from Normal

The combined average snow depth is 20.7 cm (below historic minimum) and water equivalence is 56.0 mm (well below normal)

With daytime high temperatures mostly above 0 ºC, little snowfall and some rain over the past two weeks today’s measured snowpack is below the historic minimum for this time of year reports the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) who measures snow depth and water content as part of its Flood Forecasting and Warning Program. The snowpack has increased by 1.0 cm and the snow water equivalent increased by 3.7 mm since the last snow survey on February 1, 2024. 

 "The combined average snow depth is 20.7 cm (below historic minimum) and water equivalence is 56.0 mm (well below normal) at the three snow course locations" said Angela Mills, NBMCA Water Resources Specialist. "Though there is little moisture stored in the snowpack, there are many other factors including early spring rains that will affect water levels and flood risk during freshet”, she added.

 The 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/