B.C. Drought

Almost all of B.C. finds itself at the worst or second-worst level of drought, according to the most recent map tracking drought conditions in B.C. (Government of BC/Screencap)

Almost all of B.C. at worst or second-worst possible drought level

28 out of 34 water basins at Level 4 or Level 5 drought rating

Almost all of B.C. finds itself at the worst or second-worst level of drought, according to the most recent map tracking drought conditions in B.C. (Government of BC/Screencap)
B.C. farmers will once again be eligible to apply for funding through a joint federal-provincial program that helps producers adapt to climate change. The province announced Aug. 3, 2023 that $4 million will be available through the Beneficial Management Practices program, which aims to help farmers and ranchers throughout B.C. become more resilient and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. (Pixabay)

B.C., Canada promise $4M to help farmers adapt to climate change, drought

Program aims to help producers with waste management, air-quality and emissions control

B.C. farmers will once again be eligible to apply for funding through a joint federal-provincial program that helps producers adapt to climate change. The province announced Aug. 3, 2023 that $4 million will be available through the Beneficial Management Practices program, which aims to help farmers and ranchers throughout B.C. become more resilient and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. (Pixabay)
A bear forages near the Donnie Creek wildfire burning north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Not just humans dealing with impacts of B.C.’s wildfires

Emergency Management Minister says climate change prolonging life of moths that feed on trees

A bear forages near the Donnie Creek wildfire burning north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)
Canadian Armed Forces walk into the forest for their regular routine of ground sweeping and looking for wildfire hotspots Augier Road in Tintagel on July 26, 2023. B.C. Wildfire Service’s operations director says in his 21 years with the organization he’s “never felt the heaviness that we are feeling this season” as crews mourn two deaths in B.C. (Saddman Zaman/ Lakes District News photos)

‘It’s heavy’: Firefighter deaths weighing on B.C. wildfire crews

Operations director says some of the fires are too aggressive to put people in front of

Canadian Armed Forces walk into the forest for their regular routine of ground sweeping and looking for wildfire hotspots Augier Road in Tintagel on July 26, 2023. B.C. Wildfire Service’s operations director says in his 21 years with the organization he’s “never felt the heaviness that we are feeling this season” as crews mourn two deaths in B.C. (Saddman Zaman/ Lakes District News photos)
Flames from the Donnie Creek wildfire burn along a ridge top north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 2, 2023. A fundraiser has been launched to honour the memory of a firefighter killed while fighting British Columbia’s largest wildfire last week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Noah Berger

August can be the most challenging month for B.C. wildfires, says Ma

Emergency Management Minister says impacts to wildlife with more bear encounters, restrictions on fishing

Flames from the Donnie Creek wildfire burn along a ridge top north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 2, 2023. A fundraiser has been launched to honour the memory of a firefighter killed while fighting British Columbia’s largest wildfire last week. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Noah Berger
Cows grazing at W Diamond Ranch. B.C.’s agriculture minister says the province is working to get hay for farmers and ranchers who need it immediately. (W Diamond Ranch).

B.C. working to source hay, feed for farmers in need immediately

Federal program to also provide advance payments for those facing cash-flow challenges

Cows grazing at W Diamond Ranch. B.C.’s agriculture minister says the province is working to get hay for farmers and ranchers who need it immediately. (W Diamond Ranch).
The Bush Creek East wildfire burning west of Adams Lake was estimated to be 310 hectares as of Tuesday afternoon, July 18, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service photo)

Nearly a quarter of B.C.’s 34 water basins at highest drought levels

500 international firefighters helping to wildfire crews in the province

The Bush Creek East wildfire burning west of Adams Lake was estimated to be 310 hectares as of Tuesday afternoon, July 18, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service photo)
Drought conditions in B.C. are disproportionately worse compared to seasonal averages, and officials and experts are urging British Columbians to be sparing with their water usage. (Adobe stock)

Faucet frugality: Experts say B.C. residents need to conserve water now

The province is facing severe drought conditions much earlier than usual

Drought conditions in B.C. are disproportionately worse compared to seasonal averages, and officials and experts are urging British Columbians to be sparing with their water usage. (Adobe stock)
Widespread dry weather has created extreme fire danger conditions throughout B.C., including Harrison Hot Springs. The province gave an update Thursday (July 13, 2023) on the current drought conditions and outlook in B.C. (Adam Louis/Observer)

‘Deeply concerning’: 22 of B.C.’s 34 water basins facing severe drought levels

‘We need people to turn their minds to a conservation mindset’: minister

Widespread dry weather has created extreme fire danger conditions throughout B.C., including Harrison Hot Springs. The province gave an update Thursday (July 13, 2023) on the current drought conditions and outlook in B.C. (Adam Louis/Observer)
Trees scorched by the Donnie Creek wildfire line a forest north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Noah Berger

Drought update follows minister’s call for B.C. residents to conserve water

Conservation measures across larger areas of the province anticipated as situation progresses

Trees scorched by the Donnie Creek wildfire line a forest north of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 2, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Noah Berger
Mission Creek at Casoro shows a drying stream bed. At present, the province has declared a Drought Level 3 for the Okanagan as a result of dry conditions and forecasts for above normal temperatures. (Contributed)

Okanagan moved to Drought Level 3 rating

Precipitiation has been lower than average in many parts of British Columbia this year

Mission Creek at Casoro shows a drying stream bed. At present, the province has declared a Drought Level 3 for the Okanagan as a result of dry conditions and forecasts for above normal temperatures. (Contributed)
Cattle roam in a field near Pigeon Lake, Alta., on May 1, 2022. Experts say an uptick in extreme weather, such as drought, is leading beef farmers in the U.S. and Canada to thin their herds in near-record numbers, which could lead to supply problems in the beef industry over the longer term. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Extreme drought makes cattle farmers thin herds, could cause future supply problems

Climate change likely to increase drought conditions over time in Canada and U.S.

Cattle roam in a field near Pigeon Lake, Alta., on May 1, 2022. Experts say an uptick in extreme weather, such as drought, is leading beef farmers in the U.S. and Canada to thin their herds in near-record numbers, which could lead to supply problems in the beef industry over the longer term. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson
A view of Gibsons Landing from the top of Soames Hill, a short but steep hike on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, is seen near the town of Grantham’s Landing, B.C., on May 23, 2016. A state of local emergency in response to drought along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been lifted as the regional district says water flows were high enough in a key water source.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lauren Krugel

Drought state of emergency lifted for B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, water restrictions stay

Residents still not allowed to water lawns, fill hot tubs, among other things

A view of Gibsons Landing from the top of Soames Hill, a short but steep hike on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast, is seen near the town of Grantham’s Landing, B.C., on May 23, 2016. A state of local emergency in response to drought along British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been lifted as the regional district says water flows were high enough in a key water source.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lauren Krugel
A pedestrian carries an umbrella as light rain falls in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, October 21, 2022. British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast Regional District says continued “uncertainty” about water supplies means it will seek an extension of the state of local emergency declared last month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. regional district seeks emergency extension as winter water supply ‘uncertain’

Stage 4 restrictions are in place across a wide area of the Sunshine Coast

A pedestrian carries an umbrella as light rain falls in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, October 21, 2022. British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast Regional District says continued “uncertainty” about water supplies means it will seek an extension of the state of local emergency declared last month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Flooding on a rural home in the Hatzic community taken on Nov. 29, 2021, a day before the third atmospheric river event. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. communities warned to prepare for flooding when rain hits drought-ridden areas

Dry weather can increase initial flood risk, River Forecast Centre says

Flooding on a rural home in the Hatzic community taken on Nov. 29, 2021, a day before the third atmospheric river event. (Black Press Media file photo)
A spring 2021 file photo shows the Comox Dam and Comox Lake Reservoir on Vancouver Island. As of September 2022, inflow levels into the sites are at 36.9 per cent of what they would normally, as several parts of the province face drought conditions. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)

Smaller BC Hydro watersheds at near-record lows amid drought conditions

Low water levels not enough to threaten provincial power delivery, but do warn of climate change

A spring 2021 file photo shows the Comox Dam and Comox Lake Reservoir on Vancouver Island. As of September 2022, inflow levels into the sites are at 36.9 per cent of what they would normally, as several parts of the province face drought conditions. (Photo courtesy of BC Hydro)
(Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press)

Historic drought behind B.C. wildfires, salmon die-off could continue, experts say

Dry weather could persist throughout October

(Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press)
The Flood Falls Trail wildfire burns above the Fraser River in Hope, B.C., Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. As hot and dry conditions persist in the province, the superintendent of BC Wildfire Service’s predictive services unit warns fire season in British Columbia is not yet over. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Wildfire Service warns season not yet over amid drought

‘Problematic’ hot and dry conditions persist, with temperatures 5 to 8 degrees above normal

The Flood Falls Trail wildfire burns above the Fraser River in Hope, B.C., Monday, Sept. 12, 2022. As hot and dry conditions persist in the province, the superintendent of BC Wildfire Service’s predictive services unit warns fire season in British Columbia is not yet over. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Sunrise in the smoke from wildfires as seen from Alexander Avenue in Chilliwack on Aug. 31, 2022. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Chilliwack on target for the driest September in more than a century of weather records

‘There is a cost to all this (drought), and it is the farmers who pay for it,’ says retired ag prof

Sunrise in the smoke from wildfires as seen from Alexander Avenue in Chilliwack on Aug. 31, 2022. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)
High water levels wash out highway 307 just northeast of Winnipeg, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Floods, droughts and major storms that wash out highways, damage buildings and destroy power systems could cost Canada's economy $139 billion over the next 30 years, a new climate-based analysis predicts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods

Floods, drought, storms could cost Canada’s economy $139 billion by 2050: report

Manufacturing and distribution will take the biggest hit from water-related climate disasters

High water levels wash out highway 307 just northeast of Winnipeg, Tuesday, May 24, 2022. Floods, droughts and major storms that wash out highways, damage buildings and destroy power systems could cost Canada's economy $139 billion over the next 30 years, a new climate-based analysis predicts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods