British Columbia
The coast continues to experience cool, wet conditions as a result of the moderate La Niña climate pattern. Snowpacks are currently 120 per cent of normal along the south coast and on Vancouver Island. This will likely result in sustained summer flows rather than an extreme spring peak, which suggests a good outlook for wetlands along the coast. Crop planting may be delayed if wet conditions continue into April. Migratory birds are utilizing fields and estuary habitats, as they fuel up for their northward migration.
Conditions have been relatively cool and moist in the central Interior, where snowpacks were about normal this winter. Much of the low elevation snow has melted, but almost all lakes and wetlands are still frozen. There are already lots of flooded areas for migrants; and there might be a small recovery in water levels when the wetlands open up. Many waterfowl (including Canada geese and trumpeter swans) have started to return to low-lying areas, despite the rarity of open wetlands.
Even with recent snowfalls and La Niña conditions in the southern Interior, snowpacks are still just below average. However, spring habitat conditions should be better than they've been in this region over the last 2-3 years. In the southeast Interior, snowpacks were about normal this winter, and late winter conditions have been relatively cool.
In the Peace region, winter snowfall has been slightly above average. Temperatures have been relatively cold, and there is still about 2-3 feet of snow on the ground. The extra moisture will help replenish wetlands and offset last fall's drought conditions, and the runoff potential looks better than it has for the last 2-3 years.