Global Courant 2023-05-22 06:58:05
The BC River Forecast Center has issued flood warnings for several parts of BC, including the northeastern Peace region, which is already experiencing out-of-control wildfires.
A flood watch was released on Sunday for rivers and tributaries around Fort St. John, Taylor, Chetwynd, Moberly Lake, Pine Pass, Hudson’s Hope, and Dawson Creek.
The River Forecast Center says unseasonably warm weather in recent weeks has led to heavy snowfall, meaning the region is vulnerable to significant flooding as water levels rise.
It compares current conditions to those of 2011 and 2016, when floods forced people from their homes, stranded entire communities and tore apart roads that took months to fully repair.
Environment Canada says heavy rain is expected Monday through Tuesday, with 50 to 75mm expected in the southern region from Fort Nelson through the North Peace region, and up to 100mm expected in the South Peace region, including Tumbler Ridge.
The agency warns of flash flooding, pooling and possible debris flows.
A white sedan teeters on the edge of a flooded street in Dawson Creek, BC, in 2016. The BC River Forecast Center has issued a flood warning for the city, saying weather and water conditions are similar to those that led to catastrophic flooding in northeastern Canada. BC seven years ago. (Brett Hyde/CBC)
In addition to the Peace region, the BC River Forecast Center has issued flood watches for the Boundary, Kootenays and Columbia regions in the southeast, the Shuswap, Thompson, Bonaparte, and Okanagan regions in the southern interior and off the upper and middle Fraser River around Prince George and Quesnel.
Multiple thunder watches are in effect with heavy rain forecast through Tuesday by Environment Canada.
The damage from the 2016 floods took months to repair, shutting down entire communities as roads were destroyed and washed away. (BC Ministry of Transport)
Dangers to the public
Officials say it’s important to avoid rivers and streams that are under surveillance and flood warnings.
Swimming, fishing, boating, and hiking near these rivers and streams are also discouraged.
On Friday night, a man drowned while trying to save a dog swept away by high, fast-flowing water in West Vancouver’s Cypress Falls Park.
“When you’re near bodies of water, keep your dog on a leash,” said Paul Markey, who led North Shore Rescue’s response to the call. “And if the dog does go in, absolutely don’t follow the dog and don’t try to get near the water.”
Storms can help — or hinder — wildfire fighting
The warning comes as the region is already dealing with several out-of-control wildfires that continue to force hundreds of people from their homes.
As of Sunday evening, more than 90 wildfires have been raging across the province, most of them in the Peace River region, including three wildfires threatening property.
Forrest Tower, a county firefighter, said there is hope that the predicted rain could help bring some of those fires — such as Red Creek and Cameron River — under control.
However, the fire department also monitors for possible lightning strikes, which could spark new fires when the rains arrive.
“The timeline, right now, is just when we start to receive that precipitation,” he said.
