VIW Paddling Society

Vancouver Island Whitewater Paddling Society. Organizers of the Puntledge River Paddle Festival. Supporter of Cowichan Youth Kayak Fest & Gordon Creek Race

[Mount Washington @MountWashington]

��️Daily Conditions Report️
Overnight Snow: 1 cm
New Snow 48 hr: 7 cm
Hawk Base (1105m): 76 cm
Low Temp: -19° C
❄️ Alpine Report: https://t.co/2jCao9W5Dl
#MyMWOps

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

Precipitation for these Vancouver Island upper watersheds for the month of November, as a % of normal:
🌦Jordan River: 46%
🌦#CampbellRiver: 36%
🌦Ash River & Puntledge River: 26%
(Ash & Puntledge driest Nov in our records; Campbell 2nd.)

To date December is 10%-28% of normal.

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

November, at about 35%, is the 14th consecutive month where monthly precip wasn’t normal (i.e. 90%-110%) for any of our Vancouver Island hydroelectric watersheds. 🌤

Will December be the month to end the streak? Starting off dry. I hope it’s wetter than normal!
#Weather

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

The ongoing low water conditions: Puntledge River operations update. #ComoxValley

[Dean Stoltz @deanstoltzchek]

For the fist time in 22 years @bchydro will start pumping water between two lakes near #CampbellRiver tomorrow due to drought conditions. Does not affect power supply but is being done to improve water flow down the Quinsam River for fish survival. #BCdrought
@CHEK_News

[Comox Valley Record @CVRecord]

We have reporters in Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland to get you the results as soon as they come in. Stay tuned. #ElectionDay

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

Elsie Lake Reservoir is very low though we can maintain the minimum fish habitat flow (3.5 m3/s) down the Ash River thru Oct. Inflows basically zero. #Alberni
@ACRDgov @HupacasathFN @tseshaht

[Comox Valley Record @CVRecord]

Stage 3 water restrictions effective in #ComoxValley https://t.co/cIomvIDnmp

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

Odd. This will be the 12th month in a row where monthly precip hasn’t been within 90%-110% of normal for our Vancouver Island hydroelectric watersheds. Either wet (217%) or dry (8%) months. But overall, last 12 months just above normal. 💦

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

Comox Dam. Picnic site. Puntledge River in the #ComoxValley.

[CTV News Vancouver @CTVVancouver]

One person has died and another is injured after a shooting that led police to Highway 1 in Burnaby where the victims were found in a car. https://t.co/zUzpzL89UI

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

For expert kayakers @Raftinglife @VIWPS the Puntledge River flows about 70-80 m3/s from dam thru Thursday & then potentially around 90 m3/s for Friday-Sunday. I’ll update you on Thursday.
All others please stay away from the river. #ComoxValley
(Pics from today from Dave.)

[CTV News Vancouver Island @CTVNewsVI]

Rain and wind warnings have been posted for regions of Vancouver Island, with several atmospheric rivers forecasted to arrive. https://t.co/Xk4QxP387U

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

@Raftinglife @VIWPS we have reduced flows slightly to about 90 m3/s given bit of a reduced near-term forecast. I’ll provide another update tomorrow afternoon when more clarity of the next two storms to Tuesday. Thanks

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

Tomorrow, Puntledge River flows from Comox Dam will finally go down to normal.
The caution safety signage by Barber’s Hole and Nymph Falls section of the river will remain into December. #ComoxValley

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

Rainfall within the upper Puntledge River watershed in last 24 hours:
Comox Dam: 70 mm
Cruikshank River: 89 mm
Eric Creek: 99 mm
Lots of rain and more to come. Cruikshank went from 15 m3/s to
129 m3/s. #ComoxValley #BCStorm

[CityNews Vancouver @CityNewsVAN]

Metro Vancouver might be in for a Halloween treat, as clear skies are giving way to a possible aurora borealis sighting over the Lower Mainland. The University of Alaska Fairbanks says auroral activity will be “high” on Saturday and Sunday evenings. https://t.co/veb2Br1QIH

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

Since October 16, the Elsie Lake Reservoir level has risen 6.8 metres (22’) and is now beginning to free spill over the spillway (file 📷). Usually at this level in December from storms. Early.
Flows go down the Ash River.
@ACRDgov #Alberni #BCStorm

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

With high inflows from #BCStorm we will increase the discharge from Comox Dam tonight by ~25% to 110 m3/s thru Mon. ~4x normal discharge rate. Dangerous river flows so caution. Reservoir up 40 cm since yesterday. #ComoxValley

[Stephen Watson @SWatson_BCH]

Nymph Falls. 63 mm fell in the upper Puntledge River watershed yesterday. Water release from our Comox dam at about 3x normal due to #BCStorm. Caution.
#ComoxValley