Snow levels hit record at select West Kootenay stations

The Redfish Creek automated snow station recorded its highest Jan. 1 level since installation about 25 years ago, and the West Kootenay region's seven stations show snowpack at 112% of normal, the B.C. River Forecast Centre reported.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre reported unusually high early-January snow measurements at several monitoring sites. The Redfish Creek automated snow weather station recorded its highest Jan. 1 reading since it was established roughly 25 years ago. Across the West Kootenay region, the seven automated stations show snowpack above typical levels for this date. Provincial averages are higher than mid-December values and several stations have already passed their spring 2025 peak snow water equivalent. Key observations: - Redfish Creek ASWS measured its highest Jan. 1 snow level since the station began about 25 years ago. - West Kootenay regional snowpack is at 112% of normal across its seven ASWS sites. - The provincial average across all ASWS sites is 130% of the period-of-record median for Jan. 1, up from 114% on Dec. 15. - Several stations have already exceeded their peak snow water equivalent (SWE) values from spring 2025. - Storm systems from mid-December through the Christmas period drove rapid mountain snowpack increases, while drier and colder conditions late in December slowed accumulation. - Basin averages vary widely: South Coast 88% and Vancouver Island 70% are the lowest, while Liard (196%), Peace (158%) and Similkameen (156%) are the highest. Summary: Snowpack across much of the province is above median levels for Jan. 1 and several monitoring sites have already surpassed last spring's peak SWE values, according to the forecast centre. The centre also reported that a return to a colder, more active storm pattern is expected during the first week of January.