NBMCA: Snow depths recede to record lows

With the mild weather and below-normal precipitation the last two weeks, the snowpack is well below normal for this time of year reports the North Bay-Mattawa
Conservation Authority.

The NBMCA measures snow depth and water content as part of its Flood Forecasting and Warning Program.

The snowpack has decreased by 6.5 centimetres and the snow water equivalent increased by 4.3 millimetres since the last snow survey on January 15.

“The average snow depth for all three locations is 19.7 cm (well below normal) and water equivalence for the three sites is 52.3 mm (below normal),” said Angela Mills, NBMCA Water Resources Specialist. “Only 1988 recorded less snow than 2024 at Corbeil, while the North Bay and Shirley Skinner sites have recorded new historic minimum snow depth for this time of year,” she added.

NBMCA has changed the way snow survey measurements are compared to historical conditions. With day-to-day differences in snowpack conditions, these changes include reporting a range of normal values that would be expected in most years and communicating a comparison of current measurements relative
to these normal conditions.

A new Snow Survey web page is available with more snow survey program information and this season's measurements.

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

• Current Snow Depth for February 1, 2024: 22.7 cm (below historic minimum)
• Water Equivalence for February 1, 2024: 64.0 mm
• Snow Depth last year for February 1, 2023: 56.8 cm
• Normal Snow Depth: 34.7 cm to 49.6 cm
• Highest recorded snow depth for February 1 since 2012*: 64.3 cm in 2019
• Lowest recorded snow depth for February 1 since 2012*: 34.5 cm in 2016

*Data before Dec. 2011 was collected at the former Northeast Mental Health Centre that was located on Highway 11, north of North Bay.

Corbeil Conservation Area — La Vase River Watershed, Corbeil

• Current Snow Depth for February 1, 2024: 17.0 cm (well below normal)
• Current Water Equivalence for February 1, 2024: 48 mm
• Snow Depth last year for February 1, 2023: 50.4 cm
• Normal Snow Depth: 36.2 cm to 51.5 cm
• Highest recorded snow depth for February 1 since 1988: 72.7 cm in 2019
• Lowest recorded snow depth for February 1 since 1988: 14.2 cm in 1988

Shirley Skinner Conservation Area — Kaibuskong River Watershed, Chisholm

Current Snow Depth for February 1, 2024: 19.3 cm (below historic minimum)
Current Water Equivalence for February 1, 2024: 45.0 mm
Snow Depth last year for February 1, 2023: 48.7 cm
Normal Snow Depth: 32.2 cm to 48.7 cm
Highest recorded snow depth for February 1 since 2007: 75.1 cm in 2019
Lowest recorded snow depth for February 1 since 2007: 24.8 cm in 2008