Global Courant 2023-05-04 05:42:37
Much of B.C.’s interior is under flood control, flood warnings or a high-current advisory on Wednesday, with the county predicting flooding to worsen in the coming days.
Communities across the interior — including Cache Creek in the Thompson region and Parker Cove in northern Okanagan on the Okanagan Indian Band region — have been issued evacuation orders in recent days due to flooding.
It’s because rivers are rising rapidly due to rapidly melting snow following a hot wave that is expected to continue, the county said.
In a statement, BC’s emergency management ministry says it expects warm weather with accelerated snowmelt expected through Friday, followed by heavy rain and thunderstorms through Saturday
The River Forecast Center has issued a flood warning for the Thompson region that includes communities including Cache Creek, Lytton and Merritt. (Marcella Bernardo/CBC)
“Based on forecasts from the River Forecast Center, conditions in areas currently in flood, including Cache Creek and Okanagan Indian Band, are expected to worsen in the coming days,” the statement said.
The county also said moderate flooding is expected in Grand Forks as of Friday, and “significant flood risk” is expected in smaller watersheds in the central and southern interior.
The public is asked to stay away from fast-flowing rivers and riverbanks and to avoid recreational activities in or near rivers and streams.
Parker Cove, west of Vernon, BC, was the scene of flooding Tuesday from a flooding Whiteman’s Creek. Evacuation orders were expanded in the region, which is administered by the Okanagan Indian Band on Wednesday. (Brady Strachan/CBC)
Have evacuation alerts has been issued in two rural regions of Grand Forks, near the Canada-US border in the Kootenay region.
“The Regional Emergency Operations Center is issuing these warnings because weather models show rivers will continue to rise,” Mark Stephens, the EOC director for the Kootenay Boundary Regional District, said in a statement.
Sandbag centers activated
The province said in its statement that it had already sent more than 200,000 sandbags to communities this year to deal with flooding.
It said it is sending watershed experts to problem areas and liaising with communities to help with preparedness and emergency plans.
As of May 3, 2023, much of BC’s interior is under a flood watch, warning, or advisory for high stream flows. Regions in yellow are under a flooding advisory, with orange regions under a flood watch and regions in red under a flood warning. (BC River Prediction Center)
The BC River Forecast Center has issued a flood warning for the Thompson region that includes communities including Cache Creek, Lytton and Merritt.
A flood warning was also in effect for Whiteman Creek as it drains into Okanagan Lake, in the Parker Cove community.
Lower-level flood watches covered the Okanagan, Boundary, and Kootenay regions, along with areas around the Salmon River between Salmon Arm and Vernon. A flood watch was also in effect for the middle Fraser River plateau, including areas around Quesnel and Williams Lake.
To the north, high-current warnings were in effect for the Williston region and areas around Prince George.
In the center’s three-level warning system, a flood watch means that river levels are rising and flooding may occur. It is preceded by a High Stream Advisory — the lowest of three levels issued by the River Forecast Center — indicating that minor flooding is possible in low-lying areas.
The province says the interior expects sunny skies and warm temperatures all week, with maximums around 30 C. There is also a chance of up to 60 millimeters of rain later in the week.
Anyone who has an evacuation alarm or order is requested to keep a gobag with important documents ready.
