As of the Province’s March 1, 2026 Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin, the Peace snow basin index was 130% of normal, making it one of the highest snowpack regions in B.C. at that time. The same bulletin notes that, by early March, about 80% of the annual mountain snowpack has typically accumulated, with another four to eight weeks still remaining in the snow accumulation season.

For local growers and producers, that is generally a positive sign compared with the last few years. Higher-than-normal snowpack can improve spring runoff, help recharge dugouts, streams, and some soil moisture reserves, and reduce some of the immediate concern that comes with going into spring very dry. That said, I would be cautious about calling the drought “over.” A good snowpack improves conditions, but it does not guarantee the season ahead. What matters next is how the snow comes off, how much of that moisture actually infiltrates, what subsoil moisture looks like going into seeding, and what kind of rainfall and temperatures we get through May, June, and July. The Province’s 2025 drought summary says conditions improved substantially compared with 2022–2024, but recovery was uneven, and it specifically flagged the South and East Peace as areas that could remain vulnerable depending on 2026 snowpack and spring/summer weather.

So my view would be: conditions look improved, but we are not in a position yet to say drought risk has disappeared. A wet snow year gives producers a better starting point, not a guaranteed outcome.

In terms of all the snow currently on the ground, that can cut both ways. If it melts gradually and the ground is able to take in the moisture, that is beneficial. If it comes off too quickly, or if melt is combined with rain while soils are still frozen or saturated, more of that water can move as runoff instead of becoming useful stored moisture. The March 1 bulletin notes that regions with normal to above-normal snowpack have an increased hazard for spring snowmelt-related flooding, which is another reminder that the way the melt happens matters just as much as the total snowpack itself.

For planting, the main issue is not simply having snow on the land in March, but whether fields dry out and thaw in time for normal field access. Producers generally want a gradual melt followed by conditions that allow soils to warm and equipment to get on the land without causing compaction or rutting. If snow persists too long into spring, or if fields stay wet and cold, seeding can be delayed. On the other hand, most producers would rather start with good moisture and a slightly later field entry than head into spring with bare, dry soils and ongoing moisture deficits. From an agronomic standpoint, what will matter most over the next several weeks is the timing of thaw, drainage, field trafficability, and whether weather in late April and May supports a reasonably timely start.

In short, the current snowpack is encouraging and should be viewed as a meaningful improvement from recent drought years, but it is still too early to declare the drought fully behind us. The next phase of spring weather will tell us a great deal.

Best,
Nadia