Flood and fire risks remain, despite positive signals in B.C. seasonal outlook [Video]

British Columbia looks well-positioned to avoid the worst of early-season floods and fires this year, provincial officials said Wednesday.

Representatives from multiple provincial ministries, as well as forecasters with the BC Wildfire Service and B.C. River Forecast Centre, delivered their flood and wildfire outlook for the season.

Officials said the province’s overall snowpack, while about 20 per cent lower than average, remains significantly higher than last year. At the same time, persistent drought conditions continue to linger in some parts of B.C., though they have abated somewhat from previous years.

Province-wide, B.C.’s snowpack currently sits at about 79 per cent of normal, up from 63 per cent this time last year, according to River Forecast Centre head David Campbell.

The Fraser basin mirrors that figure, while some areas “well below” 70 per cent, including the Central coast and Chilcotin, the Skeena and Nass basins, the Nechako basin and the Similkameen.

Campbell said …