Spring in Western Canada: The approach of wildfire season
A below-average snowpack in many parts of Western Canada could translate into another active wildfire season. The Weather Network's Connor O'Donovan reports.
As spring unfolds across western Canada, the region braces for the impending peak of wildfire season. Early indicators suggest conditions may already be ripe for high-risk scenarios.
According to Rhythm Reet, a meteorologist at The Weather Network, “A below-seasonal amount of precipitation has dominated across western portions of Canada.” This trend raises concerns about drought conditions, particularly in southern British Columbia and parts of the Northwest Territories.
Despite some snowfall in early March, snowpack levels remain significantly below average in various areas of the west, especially along the southern Rockies.
The graph below illustrates moisture levels, with the purple lines representing average moisture. The red lines depict moisture levels from last year, while the blue lines indicate current levels for this spring.
One of the most critical periods for rapid fire growth occurs after snowmelt and before newly exposed, dry vegetation has a chance to regrow. A low, quickly melting snowpack can extend this vulnerable window.
DON'T MISS: Stay up-to-date with the latest wildfire news across Canada
The spring weather forecast will play a crucial role in determining whether this potential risk materializes into a real threat. In 2023, for instance, low precipitation and early warmth transformed a low winter snowpack into a historic wildfire season.
Reet notes, “Spring 2023 featured below-normal precipitation across western Canada, with an El Niño pattern starting to develop.”
Looking ahead, the spring forecast presents a mixed bag. Meteorologists predict below-normal temperatures alongside average precipitation levels. Officials remain cautiously optimistic while preparing for the worst. Recruitment efforts are already underway in provinces like British Columbia and fire-scarred Alberta, where the government has announced a record $160 million in base funding for the 2025 wildfire management season.
2025 spring precipitation forecast (The Weather Network)
Todd Loewen, Alberta's Forestry Minister, stated, “Our recruitment, our training, prep equipment, and the added dollars to do that are in the budget. I think we’re in much better shape than we were last year.”
As spring progresses, it is essential to remember that all wildfires in this season, prior to lightning strikes, are human-caused and can be prevented through safe fire management practices.
WATCH BELOW: Top 5 ways humans cause forest fires in Canada
(Header image: File photo used for illustration purposes only. Credit: Kyle Brittain/provided in 2023)