(North Bay, Ontario, January 15, 2021)  With the above seasonal weather and little snowfall, the average snow depth has decreased by 1.7 cm and the average water content has decreased by 4 mm since last snow survey January 4, 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 average snow depth for all sites is 34.1 cm (101% normal for this time of year) and average water equivalence is 76.3 mm (122% normal),” said Kurtis Romanchuk NBMCA’s Water Resources Engineer. Last year at this time, the average snow depth was 26.9 cm and water equivalence was 49 mm.

Snow is measured for depth and water equivalence at three locations in the watershed.  

 North Bay Golf and Country Club (Chippewa Creek Watershed, North Bay)

*Data prior to Dec. 2011 collected at the former Northeast Mental Health Centre, Hwy 11N 

Current Average Snow Depth for January 15, 2021

 32.7 cm  (104% of normal)

Current Average Water Equivalence for January 15, 2021

  74 mm (109% of normal)

Average Snow Depth for January 15, 2020

 26.6 cm

Highest recorded snow depth for January 15 since 2012*

 51.6 cm in 2019

 

 

Corbeil Conservation Area (La Vase River Watershed, Corbeil) 

Current Average Snow Depth for January 15, 2021

  32.6 cm (93% of normal)

Current Average Water Equivalence for January 15, 2021

   67 mm (115% of normal)

Average Snow Depth for January 15, 2020

  27.2 cm

Highest recorded snow depth for January 15 since 1988

  63.0 cm in 2009

 

 

 Shirley Skinner Conservation Area (Kaibuskong River Watershed, Chisholm)

Current Average Snow Depth for January 15, 2021                                

 36.9 cm ( 106% of normal)

Current Average Water Equivalence for January 15, 2021

   88 mm (143% of normal)

Average Snow Depth for January 15, 2020

Highest recorded snow depth for January 15 since 2007

  27.0 cm

  57.9 cm in 2019

The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) was founded in 1972 by the Province of Ontario and the NBMCA’s 10 member municipalities. A non-profit organization, the NBMCA works closely with the public to balance human needs with the environmental needs of the region’s watershed. NBMCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities who are members of Conservation Ontario. 

You can follow NBMCA on twitter @theNBMCA and on facebook.com/theNBMCA.

For more information, contact: 

Sue Buckle, Manager, Communications & Outreach, cell (705) 497-4999

Kurtis Romanchuk, Water Resources Engineer, (705) 474-5420