Flow in Mission Creek projected to break records this week
Mission Creek projected to reach and surpass historic highs this week
Warm temperatures and a chance of rain later in the week are the perfect combination for increased flooding risks in the Okanagan, officials say.
Over the past few weeks, temperatures across the province have been about six degrees above normal, said David Campbell, head of the BC River Forecast Centre.
“Over a three-week period, that is extreme,” he said. “That’s been melting a lot of snow very rapidly.”
Low-elevation snow has essentially all melted, with half to two-thirds left in the mid-elevation areas.
Between 10 and 30 per cent of the upper-elevation snow has melted, said Campbell.
“That’s creating a transition in terms of the rivers that are susceptible and at most risk for the coming days.”
Today’s forecast high is 32 C in Kelowna, followed by 26 C on Wednesday.
“This is an extreme weather event with respect to the heat,” said Campbell.
On Thursday and Friday, there is a 40 per cent chance of showers, followed by increased temperatures and sun heading into the long weekend.
This weather is coming at a time when the rivers are already flowing very high, said Campbell.
“Weather over the next period is going to be critical for how the situation plays out.”
There are ongoing concerns for Mission Creek, which could reach historic highs this week, said Campbell.
“Towards the end of this week, we’ve got a potential to get above levels we got earlier during last week’s event, and obviously there is the potential for some rain this week,” he said.
Mission Creek is projected to reach levels higher than ever seen before, looking at records back to 1969.
Inflow into Okanagan Lake has also been very high over the last week because of the warm weather, said Campbell, adding he expects that to continue this week.
While the risk of flooding is expected to increase this week in parts of the Okanagan, it has dropped in the meantime for some residents.
The District of Coldstream has rescinded an evacuation alert.
The properties affected include those on the south end of Kirkland Drive bordering Coldstream Creek and properties on the south side of Highway 6 bordering Coldstream Creek.
Those properties include 7903, 7906, 7909, 7910, 7912, 7913 and 7914 Kirkland Drive and 7588 and 7600 Highway 6.
For more information, go online to coldstream.ca.
And for people in the Central Okanagan who have been affected by flooding that began May 7, disaster financial assistance is now available.
It is available to eligible homeowners, residential tenants, small business owners, farmers, charitable organizations and local governments that were unable to obtain insurance to cover disaster-related losses.
Financial assistance is provided for each accepted claim at 80 per cent of the amount of total eligible damage exceeding $1,000 to a maximum claim of $300,000.
Seasonal or recreational items such as hot tubs, patios, pools, garden tools, landscaping, jewelry, fur coats and bicycles are not eligible for assistance.
Assistance is also available to local governments for incremental costs associated with their emergency operations centres and to rebuild or replace essential public infrastructure to the condition it was in before the disaster.
For more information, go online to gov.bc.ca/disasterfinancialassistance.