Every year, the Earth does its best to remind us that “Yes, climate change is a real thing,” by increasing the frequency and intensity of atmospheric rivers, heat waves, and wind events, which – in turn – increase the frequency and intensity of floods and wildfires.

Here’s what you need to know about these extreme weather events as we get into spring and summer.

When Are Floods and Wildfires Most Likely to Occur in BC?

As we’ve seen with the recent atmospheric river event, floods can happen at any time of year in BC. However, according to ClimateReadyBC, the most severe floods usually occur in spring and early summer due to heavy rain and melting snow.

Meanwhile, the BC wildfire season typically runs from the spring to the fall, with peak danger coming in the summer.

What Will 2026 Hold for Floods and Wildfires in BC?

While it’s impossible to accurately predict the severity of an upcoming flood or wildfire season, one big variable that we can observe is the amount of the snowpack. The Province has a network of Automated Snow Weather Stations (ASWS) and regularly updates a webpage that provides a bi-weekly summary of snow conditions, graphs, links to other sites, and more.

So, if you’re a true geo-climatological geek, check out the site and amaze your friends, family, and co-workers with obscure trivia about the current level of the snowpack in your local mountains.

All kidding aside, the snowpack has a dramatic influence on both flooding and wildfires. Obviously, a very high snowpack, coupled with a rapid melt (due to a sudden spring heatwave) can result in high freshet volumes and potential for downstream flooding. For example, regions in northern BC currently have snowpack levels exceeding 100 per cent of normal levels.

On the other hand, areas with below-average snowpack levels are at higher risk of a severe wildfire season. Less snow means that soil will dry out faster, resulting in higher potential for early-season fires, or even reactivation of “zombie fires,” which can remain active underground through the winter. Also, a low snowpack makes a region more vulnerable to mid-late summer drought conditions by eliminating the moisture buffer that makes the soil more resistant to drying.

Much of BC is currently experiencing lower-than-average snowpack levels, the worst being Vancouver Island (48 per cent of normal snowpack levels), West Chilcotin (49 per cent), South Coast (61 per cent), and the Okanagan (62 per cent).

What Other Predictive Tools Exist?

The Province has also developed the BC Disaster and Climate Risk and Resilience Assessment to help residents understand the potential risks they face from various climate hazards in their region. This webpage helps inform the public, as well as equips REALTORS^® with tools to assess the impacts of these hazards and guide clients with their buying and selling decisions.

With extreme weather events on the rise, our sector has a clear obligation to ensure buyers and sellers make informed, “eyes-open” decisions about exposure to climate-related risks across regions, neighbourhoods, and individual properties.

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