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Flood alerts remain in place for much of B.C.’s southern Interior, with over 150 properties under evacuation alert as a result.
The River Forecast Centre warns warm weather has led to significant snowmelt over the past few days, and heavy rainfalls is expected in the area in the coming days.
The Upper Columbia and Kootenay River areas are under flood warning, meaning river levels have exceeded bankfull — or will imminently — and adjacent areas will flood.
The North Thompson River, West Kootenay and East Kootenay areas south of Invermere are under flood watch, meaning river levels are rising and approaching bankfull.
The Upper Fraser, South Thompson and Boundary areas are under a high streamflow advisory, meaning minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible as river levels rise, but no major flooding is expected.
Almost 200 homes in several communities along the Lardeau and Duncan rivers in the Central Kootenay area are under evacuation alert as of Friday evening.
This includes the communities of Cooper Creek, Meadow Creek, Marblehead and Poplar Creek.
“The river is rising rapidly and there is potential for it to exceed it’s bank capacity,” said Nora Hannon, director at the Regional District of Central Kootenay, noting that here has been no reported damage to property.
An additional six properties have been under evacuation alert in Golden, B.C., since Friday afternoon.
Flood alerts remain in place for much of B.C.’s southern Interior, with over 150 properties under evacuation alert as a result.
A water quality advisory is in place for Edgewater, B.C., a small unincorporated hamlet with a population of about 700 people.
The Regional District of East Kootenay has issued a water quality advisory, and is warning residents of Edgewater, an unincorporated hamlet with a population of about 700 people, of high water turbidity due to spring runoff.
It says children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems should drink boiled water or a safe alternative.
A section of Highway 1 between Revelstoke and Golden reopened Friday following a landslide, which Parks Canada said was triggered by warm weather combined with overnight rain.
A Saturday report from the River Forecast Centre says severe weather, including moderate to heavy rainfall, is expected in the area over the weekend through early Tuesday.
It warns people to stay away from rivers and river banks, and to never drive through floodwaters.
‘Highly variable situation’: meteorologist
Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a special weather statement for the area around Kootenay Park, East Kootenay and Elk Valley, warning there could be between 40 and 80 millimetres of rain from Saturday evening to Tuesday.
Meteorologist Bobby Sekhon says there have been significant showers in the southern Interior over the past few days, and this is expected to continue throughout the weekend.
“It’s been pretty unsettled,” said Sekhon. “It’s a highly variable situation.”
Sekhon said as we enter the wettest time of year for the southern Interior, it’s important for the region to experience rainfall to offset drought.
“It’s that delicate balance,” said Sekhon. “We really rely on those rains to come through, but hopefully not all at once.”
Just on the other side of the provincial border, Environment Canada is warning high river levels and expected rain over the next few days could cause flooding in Banff and Calgary.
