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Okanagan Lake levels 2021: That's all she wrote

(UPDATE: June 23 @ 6:30 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.054 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.058 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 7.12 cubic metres per second this morning.

With the lake well below full pool and Mission Creek outflow low as the spring freshet slow down, it looks as though it's time for us to put this story for bed for another year.

We're ecstatic that this was a boring year for lake level updates and that we can enjoy the summer without having to write stories about flooding like we did in 2017 and 2018.

If anything drastically changes in the coming days with regard to lake levels, we'll be sure to fire this story back up and alert Okanagan residents to what they need to know.


(UPDATE: June 22 @ 6:40 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.058 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.059 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 8.77 cubic metres per second this morning.


(UPDATE: June 21 @ 6:55 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.059 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.063 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 10.3 cubic metres per second this morning.


(UPDATE: June 20 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.063 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.062 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 10.2 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 19 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.062 metres. Last time we checked in, it was also 342.062 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 10.4 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 18 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.062 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.054 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 11.7 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 17 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.054 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.047 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 12.5 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 16 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.047 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.041 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 16.1 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 15 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.041 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.056 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 17.7 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 14 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.056 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.048 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 13.6 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 13 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.048 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.049 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 10.1 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 12 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.049 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.047 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 11.2 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 11 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.047 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.046 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 12.6 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 10 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.046 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.052 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 12.8 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 9 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.052 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.049 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 13.5 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 8 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.049 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.044 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 15.6 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 7 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.044 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.041 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 15.6 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 6 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.041 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.04 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 20.3 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 5 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.04 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.039 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 23.8 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 4 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.039 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.033 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 31.6 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 3 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.033 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.028 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 33.5 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 2 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.028 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.032 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 29.5 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: June 1 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.032 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 342.013 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 23.2 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 31 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.013 metres. The last time we checked the lake it was at 342.009 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake was recorded at 21.8 cubic metres per second according to the most recent data.


(UPDATE: May 30 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 342.009 metres. The last time we checked the lake it was at 341.999 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake was recorded at 15.5 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 29 @ 6 am): - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.999 metres. The last time we checked the lake it was at 341.988 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake was recorded at 17.6 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 28 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.988 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.991 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 21.4 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 27 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.991 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.98 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 22.7 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 26 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.98 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.97 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 20.2 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 25 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.97 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.948 metres.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 17.9 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 21 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.948 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.931.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 14.2 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 20 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.931 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.922.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 17.3 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 19 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.922 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.918.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 20.7 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 18 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.918 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.841.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 27.4 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 17 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.841 metres. Last time we checked in, it was 341.849.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 33.7 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 14 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.849 metres. Yesterday, it was 341.841.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 20.2 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 13 @ 6 am) - As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.841 metres. Yesterday, it was 341.83.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 16 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 12 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.83 metres. Yesterday, it was 341.818.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 15.3 cubic metres per second late last night.


(UPDATE: May 11 @ 6 am): As of 3 am this morning, Okanagan Lake sits at 341.818 metres. Yesterday, it was 341.811.

Full pool is 342.48 metres. The record high, which was set on June 9, 2017, is 343.251 metres.

Mission Creek's outflow into the lake, meanwhile, was recorded at 14 cubic metres per second late last night.


(Original story: May 10 @ 11:20 am): The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer and Okanagan residents are starting to take advantage of being outdoors in shorts and a t-shirt once again.

Spring is a wonderful time of year in this part of the world, but in recent years it’s come with an element of nervousness.

In 2017, the region was devastated by spring flooding and there was some minor flooding in 2018 as well.

Over the last two years, flooding has not been a major issue, but that’s largely thanks to the work of Penticton dam manager Shaun Reimer and a little bit of luck from Mother Nature.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia

Reimer told NowMedia today that, once again, in a lot of ways we’re at the mercy of spring weather and there could be some localized flooding in the Okanagan this year.

However, barring something fairly unforeseen over the coming weeks, he doesn’t expect Okanagan Lake to be an issue.

In fact, residents can likely expect the lake to be a bit lower than usual this year.

Reimer explained that the snowpack was quite high through the winter, which led to steps being taken to draw the lake down in preparation for a large spring freshet.

However, since the start of 2021, it’s been incredibly dry in the Okanagan, which has led to the snowpack decreasing each month.

As of now, the Okanagan snowpack is only 91% of normal for this time of year and BC’s snow survey and water supply bulletin for May 1 says that the province’s snowpack peaked on April 15.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia

“We’re not going to be sending as much water out through Okanagan Lake dam as we might,” Reimer explained.

“I think we’re certainly transitioning through from where we may have been worried about flooding in February to now we’re thinking more about water supply and potentially drought conditions.”

He added that this year has been somewhat the opposite of what we saw in 2017, when the lake was left high because there was a low snowpack over the winter.

An influx of spring precipitation and warmer-than-seasonal temperatures with a full lake is what led to the significant flooding that year.

So, long story short, weather over the coming weeks will be the most important factor when it comes to potential flooding, but as of now the outlook is quite positive.

However, we could certainly use some spring precipitation to avoid drought conditions this summer, as we also have forest fire season to consider.

<who>Photo Credit: NowMedia</who>This story will provide updated numbers on Mission Creek's outflow each morning.

This story will be updated daily with Okanagan Lake’s level as of 3 am that morning, as well as outflow numbers for Mission Creek, which will give an idea of how fast the snowpack is melting off.

Today, Okanagan Lake was at 341.811 metres at 3 am, which is a healthy amount below the lake’s full pool number of 342.48 metres.

Mission Creek was measured at 15.3 cubic metres per second this morning, a fairly standard rate at this time of year.



Send your comments, news tips, typos, letter to the editor, photos and videos to [email protected].



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