Snow conditions commentary

A bi-weekly commentary of snow conditions based on readings from the B.C. Automated Snow Weather Station (ASWS) network is published during the snow season.

June 17, 2024

Temperatures during the first half of June were generally seasonable. A brief warm spell around June 6-10 was offset by slightly cooler than normal conditions.  Colder than normal temperatures and precipitation over the June 15-16 weekend resulted in late-season mountain snow accumulation at some automated snow weather stations (ASWS).

A complete listing of Automated Snow Weather Stations (ASWS) expressed as percent of long-term median for the entire length of record is found in the ASWS Weekly Summary (PDF, 577KB)*. Hyperlinks to interactive plots have recently been added for each ASWS in the table.

*Note: These are not the official snow basin indices. 

On average, about 72% of the seasonal snow melts by June 15th. This year has trended seasonal with approximately 79% melting by mid-June, despite very early melt of the low elevation snowpack in April. In 2023, a record hot May and early June led to approximately 98% of the seasonal snowpack melting by June 15th last year, based on ASWS.

A provincial composite graph of all automated stations with relatively long-term record is shown below. The data for the graph begins in 1988.

The June 15, 2024 Snow and Water Supply Bulletin is scheduled to be released Thursday June 20, 2024. It may be released earlier if data becomes available. The official Snow Basin Indices are calculated within the Bulletin.