Environmental Trends 2007

Climate Change

Precipitation Changes in British Columbia

Data collected at B.C. climate stations show that, since 1950, winters throughout most of the province have been becoming drier, while spring and summer seasons have been becoming wetter.

• Total annual precipitation has increased in the Okanagan and North coast regions, while eastern British Columbia has been receiving less precipitation on an annual basis.

Projections from climate models (below) for mid-century show a different pattern may occur for much of the province.

Projected changes in precipitation by 2050 for the winter months (left) and summer months (right).

Click on maps for larger pdf versions.

Maps show percentage change in comparison to the average precipitation from 1961 to 1990.

Source : Pacific Climate Impacts Consortium, SRES-A2 scenario, April 2007.

• Climate model projections for 2050 suggest that the north eastern areas may become wetter and the southern interior may become marginally drier in the winter. The southern and coast regions are projected to become drier in the summer.

• An analysis of snowpack records show that the greatest average decrease in snowpack has been in the mid-Fraser River system, while snowpack has increased in some northern sites.

• Rivers in the north and interior of the province, especially at lower elevations, swell earlier in the year; several now reach peak flow more than 15 days earlier than they used to.

For detailed information, including graph data, see In-Depth Report [pdf].

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