Several southern communities on alert as water levels rise
Heavy rains predicted for Kootenays
Communities in B. C.’ s east and west Kootenays are at risk of flooding within the next 24 hours as heavy rains continue to pound the southern half of the province and bloat lakes and rivers.
The areas were placed on flood watch Tuesday after a large- scale weather system developed across the province. Flooding is possible on several rivers including the Elk River, Slocan River, and Salmo River, according to the B. C. Rivers Forecast.
The weather system, which is heading north from the U. S., was expected to dump up to 40 millimetres of rain in the region overnight Tuesday with another 20 mm today, while Environment Canada predicted the possibility of more rain in local areas, particularly in the East Kootenays.
“This is the window where [ residents] should be getting prepared,” said David Campbell, of the B. C. Rivers Forecast Centre.
Loree Duczek, spokeswoman for the Regional District of the East Kootenays, said the region’s emergency operation program has not yet been activated, but emergency teams are on standby. Some 73,000 sandbags have been stockpiled with another 66,000 expected by the end of the week, according to the regional district’s website.
The West Kootenays, meanwhile, have been prepared for flooding for the past month under threat of a heavier- than- usual snowpack in the nearby mountains and swollen rivers over the past few days.
“We have been telling people that if you’ve been flooded in the past, this might be a year when you’re flooded again,” said West Kootenay spokeswoman Noreen Clayton. “All the rivers are high everywhere and the lake levels are rising.”
The risk to communities depends upon factors such as snowpack, precipitation, temperatures and current river levels.
Campbell said up to 80 mm of rain is also expected for the North Thompson, Upper Fraser and Peace River regions through to this evening. The five- day forecast for the Fraser River at South Fort George predicts river levels will reach the flood stage by Thursday or Friday.
The Peace River region has been issued a highstream advisory — which indicates river levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly but no major flooding is expected. A similar advisory was issued for the South Interior and OkanaganKettle region, as well as the Interior and Peace River region.
Rivers in the Okanagan area are expected to continue rising into today and potentially Thursday, depending on the amount of rain. The Central Okanagan Regional Emergency Program is urging residents living in low- lying areas or near creeks to protect their property in case water levels rise quickly.