Despite recent heat, Okanagan’s drought rating remains low

Though the mercury has risen, the drought conditions have not.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre says the Okanagan Basin’s drought rating was Level 1 as of Thursday, July 11.

The Level 1 rating for the sixth consecutive week comes despite the temperatures rising to the mid- to upper-30s and there being a heat warning in place for several days leading up to the update.

The province uses a six-level classification (0-5) to rate the severity of drought conditions using core indicators like stream flow and precipitation.

Under Level 1, it would be rare that conditions create adverse affects to ecosystem and socio-economic values, though people are still advised to try to conserve water when possible.

The other Interior basins did not see any changes on a week-over-week basis in the most recent report either. The Lower, North and South Thompson remained at Level 1, while the Nicola and Similkameen were unchanged at Level 2.

The only regions in B.C. to see drought levels rise on a weekly basis in the most recent report were on the coast or the island.

Haida Gwaii’s rating rose from Level 0 to Level 1; the Sunshine Coast, West Vancouver Island and Central Coast’s ratings rose from Level 1 to Level 2; and East Vancouver Island saw conditions rise from level 2 to 3.

Northeastern B.C. still had the worst conditions in the province, as the East and South Peace’s ratings were at Drought Level 4.