Plenty of snow in B.C. cities, but 2017 snowpack actually below average

British Columbians have seen plenty of snow this winter, but that doesn't mean it's landing in all regions of the province.

Single day snowfall records were shattered from Vancouver Island to Sparwood over the last month, but across the province the snowpackis below average, according to figures from the B.C. River Forecast Centre.

"We look at the province as a whole. We're at about 79 per cent of normal," saidDave Campbell, who heads the forecast centre.

Snow fell much more in populated centres and valleys than at the tops of mountains, Campbell said, resulting in lower snowpacks in much of the province.

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"Because we've had a number of snow events in the populated areas that don't normally see that much snow, the Lower Mainland and other communities, there is that perception people are seeing and dealing with more snow than they normally do," said Campbell

The South Coast,Lower Fraser and Nechakoregions are the only areas of B.C. where the snowpack is relatively normal for this time of year, measuredwithin 90 per cent of their respective seasonal averages.

The lower snowpacks means thatat this stage of the winter, the River ForecastCentre believes thereis limited risk for any part of the province developing a seasonal flood risk.