A combination of mild temperatures, significant rain early in the month, and roughly half of the average amount of snowfall has allowed the Nelson-Castlegar area to be virtually snow-free for most of the month. Normally the area has at least 10 cm of snow on the ground to the end of February.
According to a monthly statistical roundup from the Southeast Fire Centre, February’s 12.6 cm of snow contrasted sharply with the average of 25.7 cm.
Rainfall of 50.9 mm was twice the 28.1 mm average.
This month’s highest temperature (12.2 degrees on February 20) was slightly lower than the record February high of 14.3 degrees set in 2010. The lowest temperature (minus-7.3 on February 23) was considerably warmer than the record of -21.5 set last year.
Over at Whitewater Ski Resort, February saw a total of 115 cm of new snow accumulated on the mountain, with 77 cm falling in the three-day period of February 6 to 8.
But for 15 days of the month there was no new snow recorded on the mountain.
