(North Bay, Ontario, April 17, 2019) Snow depth measured on April 15 ranged from 370 to 644 per cent of the long-term average for this time of year and water equivalence is 300 to 542 per cent of average according to the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority which measures the snowpack as part of its flood forecasting initiatives.
“Water equivalence has decreased about 9 mm over the past week,” said Joel Harrison, NBMCA’s Water Resource Scientist. “However, more melting of the snowpack will happen later this week due to the forecasted rain and warmer temperatures.”
NBMCA has issued a Flood Warning for the watershed. Approximately 35 to 55mm of rain and warmer temperatures are expected over the next few days. This will have a significant impact on the snow levels in the coming days.
The April 15 snow depth average at the three sites is 47cm (517% of the long-term average for this time of year), down 7.9cm since the last snow survey readings April 9. Meanwhile, the water equivalence of the snow pack has decreased by 9mm to 122.7mm (425% of the long-term average).
The long-term averages reflect measurements taken by NBMCA since it began measuring snow depth and water equivalence in 1987 as part of its Flood Forecasting Program.
NBMCA now measures in three locations including the North Bay Golf and Country Club (Chippewa Creek watershed), the Corbeil Conservation Area (LaVase River watershed) and Shirley Skinner Conservation Area (Kaibuskong River 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 April 15, 2019 |
47.1 cm (644% of normal) |
|
Current Average Water Equivalence for April 15, 2019 |
144 mm (542% of normal) |
|
Average Snow Depth for April 15, 2018 |
49.9 cm |
|
Highest recorded snow depth for April 15 since 2012* |
49.9 cm in 2018 |
Corbeil Conservation Area (La Vase River Watershed, Corbeil)
|
Current Average Snow Depth for April 15, 2019 |
35.2 cm (535% of normal) |
|
Current Average Water Equivalence for April 15, 2019 |
91 mm (430% of normal) |
|
Average Snow Depth for April 15, 2018 |
36.3 cm |
|
Highest recorded snow depth for April 15 since 1988 |
36.3 cm in 2018 |
Shirley Skinner Conservation Area (Kaibuskong River Watershed, Chisholm)
|
Current Average Snow Depth for April 15, 2019 |
58.6 cm (371% of normal) |
|
Current Average Water Equivalence for April 15, 2019 |
133 mm (302% of normal) |
|
Average Snow Depth for April 15, 2018 |
44 cm |
|
Highest recorded snow depth for April 15 since 2007 |
58.6 cm in 2019 |
Summary, Change & Comparison
|
Average Depth for all sites |
47 cm (517% of normal) |
|
Average snow water equivalence for all sites |
122.7 mm (425% of normal) |
|
Change in average snow depth since April 9, 2019 Change in average water equivalence since April 9, 2019 Average Depth for all sites April 15, 2018 Average water equivalence for all sites April 15, 2018 |
-7.9 cm -9 mm 43.4 cm 132.7 mm |
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, Instagram nbmcainfo, and on facebook.com/NBMCA.
For more information, contact:
Sue Buckle, Manager, Communications & Outreach, (705) 474-5420
Joel Harrison, Water Resources Scientist, (705) 474-5420