The snowpack was dense and wet with warm temperatures that are well above normal for this time of year. These temperatures combined with light rain over the weekend will reduce the snowpack on the landscape reports the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) who measures snow depth and water content as part of its Flood Forecasting and Warning Program.
“Average snow depth for all sites is 11.0 cm (62 % normal) and average water equivalence is 33.7 mm (123 % normal),” said Angela Mills, NBMCA Water Resources Specialist. In 2022, the average snow depth for the three sites was 3.1 cm and water equivalence was 9.0 mm at this time of year” she added.
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 11
|
Current Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2023 |
14.6 cm (96 % of normal) |
|
Current Average Water Equivalence for December 15, 2023 |
49 mm (173 % of normal) |
|
Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2022 |
15.2 cm |
|
Highest recorded snow depth for December 15 since 2012* |
32.2 cm in 2018 |
Corbeil Conservation Area (La Vase River Watershed, Corbeil)
|
Current Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2023 |
10.2 cm (55 % of normal) |
|
Current Average Water Equivalence for December 15, 2023 |
30 mm (126 % of normal) |
|
Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2023 |
18.5 cm |
|
Highest recorded snow depth for December 15 since 1988 |
43.2 cm in 1995 |
Shirley Skinner Conservation Area (Kaibuskong River Watershed, Chisholm)
|
Current Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2023 |
8.1 cm (38 % of normal) |
|
Current Average Water Equivalence for December 15, 2023 |
22 mm (66 % of normal) |
|
Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2023 Highest recorded snow depth for December 15 since 2007 |
21.2 cm 41.1 cm in 2010 |
The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) was founded in 1972 by the Province of Ontario and the NBMCA’s 10 member municipalities. NBMCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in Ontario responsible for watershed management on behalf of local municipalities, stakeholders, and the province.
The public can follow NBMCA on the web at nbmca.ca, on X (Twitter) (@theNBMCA), Facebook (@theNBMCA) and Instagram (nbmcainfo).
For more information, contact:
Angela Mills, Water Resources Specialist (705) 497-4668
David Ellingwood, Director, Water Resources (705) 474-5420