The Okanagan has been mired in drought since the fall of 2022.
While it’s nothing new for the region, there’s plenty of concern about drought conditions this spring due to a critically-low snow pack heading into the freshet.
The latest data from the BC River Forecast Centre says the Okanagan’s snow pack is 58% of its normal level for this time of year, the lowest ever April 1 value since measurements began in 1980.
In addition, several of the Okanagan’s snow stations have measured all-time low snow water equivalent numbers for April 1.
According to the Okanagan Basin Water Board (OBWB), several valley-bottom weather stations have recorded minimal amounts of precipitation since the start of the year.
Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton have all received far less than their historical averages for precipitation through the first 15 weeks of 2026.
While Vernon and Kelowna’s 2026 totals are more than half of the historical average for the start of the year, Penticton’s 18 mm is exactly one-quarter of the 72 mm typically seen in the South Okanagan between Jan. 1 and April 13.
The OBWB says “conditions may change if significant and sustained rain occurs,” but that certainly isn’t happening any time soon.
It’s just the opposite, in fact, as the Okanagan is about to be hit by an early May heatwave with sunshine and highs pushing 30°C at the start of the month.
In the first Drought Bulletin of 2026, the OBWB says residents should be keeping a close eye on local water restrictions, not provincial drought levels, throughout the spring and summer.
There are no water restrictions in place for Kelowna and Summerland is at Stage 1, but the rest of Okanagan municipalities are already at Stage 2 or Stage 3 water restrictions.
