How's the Snow Pack in your Area So Far?

[Salty]

Well its getting close to mid winter now and it gets a hunter wondering how the critters are making out. Looking for some reports around the province, what're you seeing.. low, average, choking on the white stuff?

Right now in the valley bottom right in Hope we're down to around a foot and its raining and melting steadily. Up at the Coq summit the snow pack shown on dbc is 125 cm at the summit that's about 1200 metres elev iirc, and its melting today. So so far on the west slope of the Cascades I'd say around average so far, with a few weeks of heavy snow and tough going earlier. Melting trend for now.

[Iron Glove]

Heading to the cabin tomorrow for awhile, I'll try to remember to report on the Tulameen snow pack.
I'll probably get stuck just getting to our door. :lol:

[Island Idiots]

Its raining in the Gar. Way less snow than last year. I hope the whiteys are doing well.

[HD95]

Beautiful sunny day on the Island,,,no snow

[charlie_horse]

Hoping to go check and see some goat numbers out the Squamish valley this weekend.

[~T-BONE~]

Hoping to go check and see some goat numbers out the Squamish valley this weekend.
Same here (the wack) hoping to see more than 26. Might be a little tough getting out to the main spot!

[walks with deer]

lots of melting snow in kamloops tonights temperature is going to make for ice...not so good.

[charlie_horse]

Same here (the wack) hoping to see more than 26. Might be a little tough getting out to the main spot!

If I can get out I'm hoping to see 40plus I think there still hauling out there so hoping it's graded.

[todbartell]

Very little snow in Vanderhoof. Little bit in November which stayed, cold December but almost no snowfall. It's warmed up a bit in January and we seen a few inches. I doubt there is 10" right now locally

[Salty]

Very little snow in Vanderhoof. Little bit in November which stayed, cold December but almost no snowfall. It's warmed up a bit in January and we seen a few inches. I doubt there is 10" right now locally

If memory serves you central interior types have had a few wimpy winters lately, snowfall wise anyway?



Its raining in the Gar. Way less snow than last year. I hope the whiteys are doing well.

And if memory serves on this one last years snow came late no? Good to hear the critters are getting off easy so far :)



Heading to the cabin tomorrow for awhile, I'll try to remember to report on the Tulameen snow pack.
I'll probably get stuck just getting to our door. :lol:


Dude, you've got an F 150 nothing can stop you :twisted: It'll be interesting to see what's going on in the Tulameen, representative country for a lot of area round 'bouts there.

[rocksteady]

In the Kootenays trench about 18 to 24" as of a few days ago. Absolute powder no base.. went looking for coyote. No sign.. Too deep and powdery so they were not out in open fields etc. Sticking to timber..

Been above freezing for a couple days so it will settle and that may change dog movement.

No idea about the high country

[TexasWalker]

It's nuts deep around 4000' above Kamloops.

[2chodi]

About a foot — maybe 15 inches in the North Peace, but we had a lot more earlier in the year and then a good stretch of warm weather that knocked it back quite a bit. The snow is very crusty now with a layer of 3 or 4 inches of powder on top — it's not the best for grazers and good for predators. Some hillsides are fairly bare.

[palmer]

Just over a foot here , last couple of snow falls have been very wet and heavy. Next couple of weeks will be important for how the deer do. So far looks good.

[Rock&Ice]

Been a decent snow up higher here in the Shuswap so far but the snow took a beating today with warm temps. It was raining in valley bottom yesterday and now its pretty messy. The ice will be a big problem when temps drop next week.

[Salty]

In the Kootenays trench about 18 to 24" as of a few days ago. Absolute powder no base.. went looking for coyote. No sign.. Too deep and powdery so they were not out in open fields etc. Sticking to timber..

Been above freezing for a couple days so it will settle and that may change dog movement.

No idea about the high country

Sounds like whatever the depth is its unstable as hell in the mountains. Just heard a piece on the news many back country incidents and rescues in the EK the last few days including at least one fatality. The say conditions are about as unstable as it gets.. yikes.

[REMINGTON JIM]

It's nuts deep around 4000' above Kamloops.

I was at Roch Lake Lake on SAT and it was only a ft + deep there ! :frown: RJ

[REMINGTON JIM]

lots of melting snow in kamloops tonights temperature is going to make for ice...not so good.

Its melting FAST here in Kammy Shitty WARM weather is Screwing up our Winter ! :mad: Looks to be Warm all month long ! :-( RJ

[rocksteady]

Sounds like whatever the depth is its unstable as hell in the mountains. Just heard a piece on the news many back country incidents and rescues in the EK the last few days including at least one fatality. The say conditions are about as unstable as it gets.. yikes.

Yup and the back country adrenaline junkies can't say no...

2 dead in the last 10 days chasing "champagne powder"

[Salty]

Been a decent snow up higher here in the Shuswap so far but the snow took a beating today with warm temps. It was raining in valley bottom yesterday and now its pretty messy. The ice will be a big problem when temps drop next week.

Thanks for the report Rock&Ice and welcome to the site :) Surprised its melting up your way too, this thaw is a little more expansive than I thought. ..

[Salty]

Made a trip to Vernon yesterday via Kane v and Kelowna there and via Kamloops back. Other than the Coq the snow pack ranged from less than a foot to close to 3 feet at higher elevations. Nothing that would make a deer's belly drag, nothing seriously hampering them yet no crust or anything.

It was getting colder again -10 on the way home between Loops and Merritt. That area got a fair bit of fresh stuff earlier in the day and was no fun earlier judging by all the punch marks in the ditch. I believe it had been closed for a while. Calling for 15-20 cm snow in Hope today snowing lightly now.

[Iron Glove]

Dude, you've got an F 150 nothing can stop you :twisted: It'll be interesting to see what's going on in the Tulameen, representative country for a lot of area round 'bouts there.

Arrived safely with haste yesterday, only slowed down by Chevy's and Dodges. All Toyotas are parked for the winter I guess. 8-)
Think we had more snow in Hope than here.
So, after a few walks in the woods, maybe 2 ft. max., usually at least 3 ft. this time of year. River has a number of unfrozen, open areas, almost every prior year we could walk across it at New Years, not so today. Must be proof of Global Climate Change I guess. ;) No tracks other then sleds and dogs but that might change as we are getting a bit of fresh snow today. Our youngest dog did find a nice pile of reasonably fresh deer crap under the snow, he treats it as Bridge Mix and enjoys it. Maybe tomorrow walk down to the Lake, usually a lot of tracks there.

[tipper]

Little less than normal on the Bonaparte area north of kamloops

[HarryToolips]

In my part of region 8 I'd say average, but I'll tell y'all officially next week when I send workers up to do our snowcourse....

[Salty]

Ugly bought of freezing rain low to mid elevations in the Cascades last night. Crusted up bad but its supposed to warm right up in the next couple days hopefully the crust will rot out soon.

[Salty]

Sounds like a lot of the interior has had quite a bit of snow in the last while any updates? Its translated to all rain down here its been around 7 degrees for the last while snows all gone but the piles.

[the_longwalker]

Pretty deep from Kitwanga to Tatogga lake in Region 6. I see moose floundering in it every night. I think the wolves are scaring them out onto the roads because I see 15-20 every night on Hwy 37 to the mine at Tatogga

[dakoda62]

Probed 160 cm. at the Paulson Pass.

[Salty]

Probed 160 cm. at the Paulson Pass.

About the same as the Coq summit - 174 cm

[kootenaihunter]

For those of you who like data and measurements...

Table 1 - BC Snow Basin Indices – January 1, 2018Basin % of Normal Basin % of NormalUpper Fraser West 94 Boundary 97Upper Fraser East 109 Similkameen 141Nechako 98 South Coast 106Middle Fraser 86 Vancouver Island 96Lower Fraser 99 Central Coast 79North Thompson 83 Skagit 63South Thompson 90 Peace 82Upper Columbia 91 Skeena-Nass 93West Kootenay 92 Stikine 52East Kootenay 106 Liard 97Okanagan 123 Northwest NO DATA

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/air-land-water/water/river-forecast/2018_jan_1.pdf

Next report is released Feb 7.

[twoSevenO]

Anyone know what the snows like up in northern 3-16, Southern 3-33 area?

[markomoose]

Its barfing down hard here tonight.30 to 50 cm on its way.

[Salix]

Lots of snow in the Williston Lake area. Well over a metre in the lower areas along the lake, there is no bottom to it making it tough to get around the bush these days even with snow shoes. Have been seeing lots of moose tracks, saw a cow bedded near the road today, she looked healthy.

[HarryToolips]

In my part of region 8 I'd say average, but I'll tell y'all officially next week when I send workers up to do our snowcourse....
Above average so far....

[albravo2]

Squamish has none but a short climb away is showing pretty decent snowpack. Spring will be interesting, especially if it is a warm one.

Up where we sled (Brandywine/Sproat/Tricouni) i'd guess there is over 300cms. I know because I dug a couple sleds out of stucks and it sure seemed bottomless.

[two-feet]

Smithers/Bulkley valley is getting our once a decade shit pile of snow. The snow banks are as tall as I am. Its crazy out there with more coming in the next couple of days

[tadpole]

Okanagan has now 125% annual accumulation. Fishing would be excellent this summer season.

[S.W.A.T.]

Smithers/Bulkley valley is getting our once a decade shit pile of snow. The snow banks are as tall as I am. Its crazy out there with more coming in the next couple of days

This what normal use to be. Our bush needs all this water anyway. It's a welcome sight in my opinion

[BromBones]

Smithers/Bulkley valley is getting our once a decade shit pile of snow. The snow banks are as tall as I am. Its crazy out there with more coming in the next couple of days

Terrace as well, getting hammered again today. Glad I bought a plow this year.

A few weeks ago the yard was bare though.

[twoSevenO]

Okanagan has now 125% annual accumulation. Fishing would be excellent this summer season.

What does the snow pack have to do with the fishing? Just the water levels from the snow melt or is there more to it I'm not aware of?

[todbartell]

Very little snow in Vanderhoof. Little bit in November which stayed, cold December but almost no snowfall. It's warmed up a bit in January and we seen a few inches. I doubt there is 10" right now locally

The last month we have seen a lot of snow.

[tigrr]

Snow fall just hit 70 inches. Thankfully some of it melted. It is over 40 inches in the bush here. Can't do much till it gets knocked down a bunch.

[TARCHER]

Got a frikken glacier starting in my yard here in PG, brutal

[Cyrus]

Most I've ever seen. Saw a deer trying to walk through it and was struggling.

[Salty]

Where's your observations Cyrus?
Sounds like its above normal in a lot of areas this year for sure especially this last while. Heard hwy 16 was closed for avalanche risk between Terrace and Rupert yesterday haven't heard that for a while. At least most of its coming in the later half of the winter so animals won't be fighting it all winter, should be some melting trends before long.

[mike31154]

Above average around these parts. Was backcountry skiing at Sol Mountain Lodge a couple weeks ago, fantastic & it continues to acumulate. Check the webcam on their site. They're about to have their 4 meter party. I've hunted around the Monashee pass area for a few years, no idea how critters winter.

[Salty]

Its been good old west coast rain the last couple weeks here on and off with mixed snow. The snow won out last night though about 6 inches right down to the deck last night. Getting glimpses through the clouds and its looking right alpine up high.. And they're calling for the artic front to drop in the next few days lows to minus 10 here. Winter ain't letting up yet ;)

[REMINGTON JIM]

we got 10 " + here in Kammy and its -12 right now ! Yup Winters sill HERE ! :smile: RJ

[Piperdown]

Cut the lawn 2 weeks ago, woke up to 1.5 inches of the white stuff this morning and 44knot winds :)

[REMINGTON JIM]

Cut the lawn 2 weeks ago, woke up to 1.5 inches of the white stuff this morning and 44knot winds :)

Yea BUT look where you gotta Live :shock: :-P lol RJ

[Piperdown]

Yea BUT look where you gotta Live :shock: :-P lol RJ

Yes but apparently according to Island Blaberer its a shithole, Ill give you a shout in March when in the Loops :)

[Salty]

Bump. Hearing its a snow year in places by now. Buddy in the Okanagan commenting its been a pins and needles winter with his son just getting his N licence and the most snow events they've seen in a while. Think I read here Srupp reporting the most snow in 15 years east of WL. Guess we won't have to worry about early drought anywhere....

There's bare ground here and there in town in these parts, lots in the hills but nothing too abnormal in the Cascades or Coast mtns I would say.

[walks with deer]

wife wants me to bring home livestock...plowed some snow to build a coral...solid 30inches in the yard with a nasty crust...no muleys in the valley only whitetails..female cougar and kitts ran through the yard they did not bist through the crust anywhere..
calling for plus 10 today perdicting some majour floods...
fireing up the old lifted trucks to drive through the mudslides..

[tubby]

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/environment/air-land-water/water/river-forecast/2018_feb1.pdf

[Cyrus]

Over my waist in my yard. Most snow in my area since 1985.

[finngun]

about 2 m 50 cm so far in beautiful blind bay....enaugh for my opinion:redface:

[Salty]

Just heard on the news that part of the roof at the city hall in Rossland caved in for snow yesterday. Apparently several houses in Nakusp too :(

[dakoda62]

265 cm Bonanza Pass West Kootenays on Sunday.

[LYKTOHUNT]

Way to much here in Quesnel

[tracker]

went through 3 tanks of fuel on the old plow truck this year, run out of room to put the white stuff now. 2 feet still on the ground at 800 meters elevation .south Okanagan I ll enjoy it until it melts away !!

[tigrr]

Just hit the 97 inch in accumulated snow fall yesterday. I promised to never say anything about rain or snow since the fires around here. Don't ever want to go through that again. Already carving out grooves in the ice for the rivers to run.

[boxhitch]

Silver Star is reporting a record snowpack of 280 cm, for this time of year.
Last year on April 7 they had 286 cm, and have hit 300 numerous times after closing date.
Mid mountain depths are also at record levels

[sausage lover]

Just spent a couple days blowing snow in Barriere up in the hills near east lake.Lots of snow here around 3 plus feet!

[HarryToolips]

My part of region 8 where my crew and I do a monthly snowcourse, we just did our calcs and were at 135% of normal..

[walks with deer]

Might be a good time to stock up on sand bags before they are out of stock..,
I will not or shouldn't flood.. but know many who could.

[srupp]

Hmmmm most snow in Williams lake in 15 years..talked to some who have been here since 1960..supposed to be up to 12 degrees above next week..should knock it down a bit...Cunningham Pass got nailed hard this year much to the Yanks peak snowmobilers delight..going to delay getting through there by weeks..
We needed the water..hopefully slow gentle release of the waters and no floods in Horsefly etc.
Cheers
Steven

[tigrr]

98.5 inches and snowing hard this morning.

[Salty]

98.5 inches and snowing hard this morning.

March- in like a lion out like a lamb. Here's hoping anyways sounds like you could do just fine without any more snow. lol

[gunpower]

We have had 8 feet plus so far this winter. It is still not like the old days when the average snow fall was 12-20 feet over the whole winter, with an average of -30 all winter long !!

[IronNoggin]

Garlic is approaching a foot in height these days...

https://i.imgur.com/lMkY2cc.jpg

Cheers,
Nog

[srupp]

Garlic is approaching a foot in height these days...

https://i.imgur.com/lMkY2cc.jpg

Cheers,
Nog

Hmmm ewe rreally funny boy..no snow..green plants.ha ha..ya sure..
Steven

[IronNoggin]

Hmmm ewe rreally funny boy..no snow..green plants.ha ha..ya sure..
Steven

LOL! Sun is out, very few fluffy clouds about, already pushing 8 degrees C on the back deck (still in shadow). Expect to blow right through 10 or so degrees today. Bet that garlic jumps another inch or two... :twisted:

Cheers,
Nog

[Drillbit]

Over my waist in my yard. Most snow in my area since 1985.

Same was said in the cariboo. Broke the 1985 record.

It's been awesome snowmobiling, that's for sure.

[tigrr]

101 1/2 inches fell here so far. Still 40 inches deep in the bush. Step off the sled trail and its right up to your belt. Crawl back up to sled. Thanks Nog. Friends are in Mexico for the winter and he sends promise notes of sunny beaches full of swimmers.

[hunter1947]

There is 10 feet hi elevations here in the EK the snow pack is good..

[Salty]

The March numbers here, Feb posted above previously. These are percentages of normal snow pack tracked by the BC river forecast centre.


Upper Fraser West 138
Boundary 136
Upper Fraser East 108
Similkameen 144
Nechako 95
South Coast 128
Middle Fraser 108
Vancouver Island 122
Lower Fraser 122
Central Coast 113
North Thompson 105
Skagit 135
South Thompson 111
Peace 90
Upper Columbia 112
Skeena-Nass 87
West Kootenay 127
Stikine 68
East Kootenay 120
Liard 80
Okanagan 141
Northwest 73

So its above normal everywhere except north and west of PG basically and those areas aren't far below normal. Here's hoping it starts to melt soon and in an orderly manner .

[Fisher-Dude]

Almost 2 feet of snow in the yard still.

But when I took the dog out at 6 am this morning, there was a robin singing in a tree, despite the -6 temperature.

Must be spring.

[M.Dean]

Snow up here is real white and real deep!!!

[Salty]

Almost 2 feet of snow in the yard still.

But when I took the dog out at 6 am this morning, there was a robin singing in a tree, despite the -6 temperature.

Must be spring.

Saw the first robin of the year yesterday here too. Its like they can smell the warmer weather coming in and make a burst north just before. Hitting about 10 degrees today snows going quick.

[markomoose]

Saw a bunch of Crows yapping in the trees.They are back!The crows generally don't winter here in P.G.

[caddisguy]

It's been a nice couple of days in the Fraser Valley... lady bugs flying around, crows having a party, coyotes yapping, gray squirrels (rats) running around... sat on my balcony to soak up a little sun, thinking about the snow slowly melting in the nearby mountains and valleys. Hoping it melts, but not so rapidly that things flood and wash out.

Thinking of heading out camping this coming weekend. I might even be able to snatch 2 or 3 of the trailcams if there isn't too much snow and I feel like getting a few ticks stuck in me. My wife bought me some white coveralls like painters use.... should serve me well, along with some serious deet action.

[Hillerbillyvan]

Saw the first robin of the year yesterday here too. Its like they can smell the warmer weather coming in and make a burst north just before. Hitting about 10 degrees today snows going quick.

Had first mosquito of the year on my hand in hope today.....dam!
massive too

[J_06]

Saw a bunch of Crows yapping in the trees.They are back!The crows generally don't winter here in P.G.Crows reside here year 'round. I have two roosts pegged and hunt them by alternating between the two and on different flyways. No a shortage of winter crows in PG.

[tigrr]

Open water near Williams Lake has Geese, swans and ducks whipping around. Junko's are here but very little bare ground to get food from. 40 inches deep in the bush still and so soft it is hard to snow shoe on. Lake fishing will be here in less than a month at this rate of melting.

[Salty]

Took a little road trip the last couple days. Went to Penticton via hwy 3, and went north of Princeton on 5a on the way home. There's a good couple feet of snow in Princeton yet but bare from Hedley on out heading east. The Similkimeen looks all peaceful with low water still but there's a ton of snow up high and still cool up there, there's supposed to be half again above normal in the Similkimeen drainage and that bears out from what I saw. Could be an interesting melt off. Quite a bit between Princeton and 97c too. First time I saw last years fire through there, pretty ominous, a couple ranches and residents through there had quite a scare but looks like no home losses.

[Iron Glove]

Took a little road trip the last couple days. Went to Penticton via hwy 3, and went north of Princeton on 5a on the way home. There's a good couple feet of snow in Princeton yet but bare from Hedley on out heading east. The Similkimeen looks all peaceful with low water still but there's a ton of snow up high and still cool up there, there's supposed to be half again above normal in the Similkimeen drainage and that bears out from what I saw. Could be an interesting melt off. Quite a bit between Princeton and 97c too. First time I saw last years fire through there, pretty ominous, a couple ranches and residents through there had quite a scare but looks like no home losses.

We were in Tulameen last weekend for a bit - same as Princeton @ 2 feet on the ground.
Lots more in the mountains, neighbours sled a lot and says there's tons and tons there.
If it's a nice, slow melt with not too much rain all will be good. If it's a fast one with rain, Otter Lake will fill up and flood the Lake end of Town.
The Tulameen River should be reasonably OK as most of the ice has broken up.
At my age my remembery ( as my Nephew would say ) ain't that good but it seems that this year the snow came later and stayed later.

[HarryToolips]

Melt is slower than normal here in region 8, and with a snowpack in the 140% range, flooding could be very bad...fortunately, it looks like they're dropping OK lake more this year in preparation...

[caddisguy]

2-3 feet of snow where we normally start hunting in April. I don't think there is a point going out opening day. Maybe a week or two into April... there will be flooding but hopefully no major washouts.

[lovemywinchester]

We were up around 5000 ft last week near Logan Lake on the sleds. Waist deep pow everywhere and full on winter still.

[j270wsm]

Got another 8" in elkford lastnight