(North Bay, Ontario, December 15, 2021) Due to a few mild days, rain and below zero temperatures there is a slight decrease in snow depth and an increase in water content since the last readings December 1, reports the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) who measures snow depth and water content as part of its Flood Forecasting and Warning Program. 

“The average snow depth for all sites is 10.1 cm (56% normal) and average water equivalence is 27 mm (98% normal),” said Angela Mills, NBMCA Water Resources Specialist. In 2020, the average snow depth for the three sites was 27.8 cm and water equivalence was 42.7 mm at this time of year last year.

Snow is measured for depth and water equivalence at three locations in the watershed.

North Bay Golf and Country Club (Chippewa Creek Watershed, North Bay)

*Data prior to Dec. 2011 collected at the former Northeast Mental Health Centre, Hwy 11                                                

Current Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2021

15.3 cm (98% of normal)

Current Average Water Equivalence for December 15, 2021

38 mm (134% of normal)

Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2020

20.7 cm

Highest recorded snow depth for December 15 since 2012*

32.2cm in 2018

 Corbeil Conservation Area (La Vase River Watershed, Corbeil)

Current Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2021

 8.2 cm (42% of normal)

Current Average Water Equivalence for December 15, 2021

 30 mm (124% of normal)

Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2020

 28.3 cm

Highest recorded snow depth for December 15 since 1988

 43.2 cm in 1995

Shirley Skinner Conservation Area (Kaibuskong River Watershed, Chisholm)

Current Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2021                                

 6.8 cm (29% of normal)

Current Average Water Equivalence for December 15, 2021

 13 mm (36% of normal)

Average Snow Depth for December 15, 2020

Highest recorded snow depth for December 15 since 2007

 34.4 cm

 41.1 cm in 2010

The North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority (NBMCA) was founded in 1972 by the Province of Ontario and the NBMCA’s 10 member municipalities. A non-profit organization, the NBMCA works closely with the public to balance human needs with the environmental needs of the region’s watershed. NBMCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities who are members of Conservation Ontario. 

You can follow NBMCA on twitter @theNBMCA and on facebook.com/NBMCA.

For more information, contact: 

Paula Loranger, Community Relations Coordinator, cell (705) 494-5115
Kurtis Romanchuk, Water Resources Engineer, (705) 474-5420