The Province rates 41 drought basins in British Columbia from Level 0 to Level 5 and issues the ratings as often as weekly through the core drought season, typically July to October. This entry keeps the 2026 season in one place, with a dated line added each week the ratings change, and closes when the Province stops updating for the winter.
The season so far, according to the Province’s downloads:
- May 28: ratings begin. The Okanagan opens at Level 5; the Nicola, the Kettle River, and East Vancouver Island at 4.
- June 25: the South Cariboo jumps from 2 to 5 in one week.
- July 2: 14 basins are at Level 3 or higher, the most so far this season.
- July 30: the Okanagan and the Nicola reach Level 5.
- August 13: the Kettle River joins them; three basins at the top of the scale through August 27.
- September 3: 20 basins fall in one week and none rise; 26 at Level 0, with the Okanagan, Nicola, and Kettle River at 4.
- October 1: the Okanagan alone at 4; the Nicola, Similkameen, and South Thompson at 3.
- October 8: no basin above Level 2, the first time this season. 25 at 0, 13 at 1, and the Okanagan, Nicola, and South Thompson at 2.
- October 22: the Okanagan back at 3, and 11 basins at Level 2, nine more than the week before.
Water scarcity levels, a pilot in 13 watersheds this year, run on their own scale. On October 22 they were still High for the Coldwater, the Upper and Lower Nicola, the five Okanagan units, and the Similkameen; Moderate for the Koksilah; and Low for French Creek, the Chemainus, and the Tsolum.
Who it affects: Anyone drawing water in a basin at Level 3 or higher, and licence holders and well owners in the 13 pilot watersheds. The ratings set no restriction by themselves; watering stages and orders are decided separately.
What hasn’t changed: A drought level measures how dry a basin is against its own record. This is not a water restriction, and a drop in the level does not indicate aquifer recovery.
Source: BC Drought Information Portal (the Drought Levels and Water Scarcity Levels downloads, issued October 22, 2026) and Drought and Water Scarcity Operations Plan · checked October 22, 2026
Updates:
October 8, 2026: The Okanagan drops from 4 to 2; no basin above Level 2 for the first time this season. Counts: 0: 25 · 1: 13 · 2: 3 · 3: 0 · 4: 0 · 5: 0. Scarcity High: Coldwater River, Upper Nicola River, Lower Nicola River, the five Okanagan units, and the Similkameen. Issued October 8; valid for October 6.
October 15, 2026: Eleven basins shuffle between Level 0 and Level 1 and nothing else moves; the Okanagan, Nicola, and South Thompson hold at Level 2. Counts: 0: 26 · 1: 12 · 2: 3 · 3: 0 · 4: 0 · 5: 0. Scarcity High: Coldwater River, Upper Nicola River, Lower Nicola River, the five Okanagan units, and the Similkameen. Issued October 15.
October 22, 2026: The Okanagan rises from 2 to 3 and nine more basins, five of them in the Kootenays, climb to Level 2; fourteen basins move up and three ease. Counts: 0: 22 · 1: 7 · 2: 11 · 3: 1 · 4: 0 · 5: 0. Scarcity High: Coldwater River, Upper Nicola River, Lower Nicola River, the five Okanagan units, and the Similkameen. Issued October 22.
Related on the Wire: BC Drought Levels Drop, but Okanagan Water Scarcity Remains High; BC Groundwater Forecast: Two Langley Monitoring Wells Below Normal Into January; Merritt Watering Restrictions: Why a BC City With Abundant Groundwater Limits Lawns
