THE www.keremeosreview.com PM Agreement #40012521
Review Vol.16 Number 17
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Serving the communities of Keremeos, Cawston, Okanagan Falls and Kaleden
$1.15 including GST
TOURIST GUIDE UNVEILING
Similkameen snowpack at 124 per cent of normal
Second annual tourism industry day See page 9
Weather conditions presently favourable for snowpack transition from accumulation to melt in the Similkameen watershed By Steve Arstad news@keremeosreview.com
MUSEUM MOVER
Lorraine Lance is passionate about Hedley Museum See page 13
OFF TO KOREA
Korean war vet returns to old battlefields See page 3
Photo courtesy of Mark Brett / Western News
Three-year-old Sofia Genberg of Keremeos tries to get her new pony to negotiate the barrel course during the junior barrels event at the Chopaka Rodeo, which took place on April 20.
The April 1 snow survey data from the BC Rivers Forecast Centre indicated a snowpack in the Similkameen of 124 per cent of normal. This represents the highest snowpack in five years for the Similkameen valley. Predictions for the runoff rate from April through June is expected to be 115 per cent of normal, indicating the possibility for increased risk of flooding this spring. Seasonal weather during the snow melt season is a critical factor in determining whether or not flooding will occur. The Rivers Forecast Centre advise that adverse weather, including extreme heat or extreme precipitation, can cause flooding in years with normal, or even below normal snow packs. The Climate Prediction Centre at the U.S. National Weather Service/NOAA is currently forecasting approximately a 50 per cent chance of the emergence of El Niño conditions into the summer. El Niño years typically have increased winter temperatures and decreased winter precipitation, and while this may not play a role in terms of 2014 summer weather, it may become a factor for the 2014-15 snow season. Seasonal forecasts from Environment Canada indicate an increased chance of above normal temperatures for the April to June 2014 period through most of British Columbia, including the Similkameen valley. Forecasts for seasonal precipitation do not indicate an increased likelihood of any particular precipitation trend through the spring. Keremeos Village Foreman Jordy Bosscha said he had not heard of any early season flooding issues in the Lower Similkameen to date, although the river has been up and down over the past couple of weeks. This week’s weather in the Lower Similkameen is expected to be cool and wet, but the extended forecast for the last few days of April is calling for above normal temperatures and sunny skies. Officials at the Rivers Forecast Centre expect the seasonal transition to snow pack melt will likely occur by the end of April.