DEH CHO
Fort Simpson and the rest of the Mackenzie Basin can look forward to warmer-than-normal conditions in May and June but the region already seems to be better off than last year, according to a senior climatologist with Environment Canada.

The fourth-warmest winter in 70 years comes to a close in the Deh Cho. For the past few years, the Mackenzie River under the Deh Cho Bridge has not frozen over. - April Hudson/NNSL photo

David Phillips told Deh Cho Drum precipitation levels over the fall and winter were better this year than in the 2014-15 year, and a heftier snowpack means more spring melt is on the way.

"It's not necessarily that you've restored levels to what they were normally ... (but) the situation is not as bleak," Phillips said.

On April 18, Phillips said precipitation this past fall and winter hit 187 millimetres since September, compared to 134 last year. The normal amount of precipitation is 176 millimetres.

On that date, Environment Canada was also measuring a "healthy" half-metre of snow at the airport, compared to 10 per cent or less of that last year.

Phillips said last winter's snow pack measured just a few millimetres last year, meaning there was not much spring melt to replenish the region's moisture.

"The situation, from the amount of precipitation - both rain and snow - that you've had this particular year has put you in better stead, from strictly a moisture point of view," he said.

"When we look at this year right now, I would think that you're not out of the woods but you are dealing with more precipitation and melt to (fill) your lakes, rivers and reservoirs."

Higher precipitation levels can mean an easier forest fire season, as wetness clamps down on smouldering brush fires and makes undergrowth less likely to ignite.

But despite positive precipitation, the warmth of the Deh Cho's winter is expected to continue into summer.

Phillips said this winter was the fourth-warmest in 70 years, meaning more than usual of the fall and winter precipitation likely evaporated.

Although Environment Canada can give temperature forecasts, precipitation forecasts are more difficult.

"A lot will depend on the coming months," he said. "We always do a better job describing what we've had than what we're going to get."