The snowpack is dense and granular as a result of the recent rain and melt event, reports the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority who measures snow depth and water content as part of its Flood Forecasting and Warning Program. 

“Average snow depth for all sites is 14.4 cm (below normal) and average water equivalence is 32.7 mm (normal), but below normal in North Bay,” said Angela Mills, NBMCA Water Resources Specialist. In 2024, the average snow depth for the three sites was 0 cm and water equivalence was 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 Snow Depth for January 2, 2025

9.6 cm (below normal)

Current Water Equivalence for January 2, 2025

25.0 mm (below normal)

Snow Depth last year for January 2, 2024

0.0 cm

Normal Snow Depth

14.9 cm to 34.3 cm

Highest recorded snow depth for January 2 since 2012*

39.0 cm in 2019

 Corbeil Conservation Area (La Vase River Watershed, Corbeil) 

Current Snow Depth for January 2, 2025

   14.1 cm (below normal)

Current Water Equivalence for January 2, 2025

   33.0 mm (normal)

Snow Depth last year for January 2, 2024

   0.0 cm

Normal Snow Depth

   18.9 cm to 38.3 cm

Highest recorded snow depth for January 2 since 1988

   48.5 cm in 2019

Shirley Skinner Conservation Area (Kaibuskong River Watershed, Chisholm)

Current Snow Depth for January 2, 2025                

 19.5 cm (below normal)

Current Water Equivalence for January 2, 2025

 40.0 mm (normal)

Snow Depth last year for January 2, 2024

Normal Snow Depth

 0.0 cm

 23.1 cm to 35.7 cm

Highest recorded snow depth for January 2 since 2007

 52.2 cm in 2019

The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) was founded in 1972 by the Province of Ontario and the NBMCA’s 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
Paula Loranger, Community Relations Coordinator (705) 474-5420