The BC River Forecast Centre is issued an upgrade advisory on Sunday to a Flood Watch for the North Thompson River and tributaries, the South Thompson River and Shuswap Lake and tributaries (including Eagle River), the Shuswap River upstream of Mabel Lake (near Lumby), and the Cariboo region (including the Quesnel River and Horsefly River). They also issued a Flood Wraning for the Shuswap River downstream of Mabel Lake (near Enderby)
The Centre advises that heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt is affecting river levels across most of the Interior of British Columbia. Rainfall amounts over the past few days. Rivers are currently rising in response to rain and snowmelt.
Snow pack is still significant in many regions of the province. The larger rivers in the province (Fraser, Skeena, Nass, North Thompson, Nechako) are reaching the peak of the snow melt season, and subsequently are at the peak of the snow melt freshet season. During this period, rivers are full and have limited capacity to contain significant additional runoff from rapid snowmelt or heavy rainfall. The peak of the freshet season is expected to last another one to two weeks, except in the South Thompson and Upper Columbia which tend to experience their peak seasons in late‐June or July and the Okanagan where the peak has already occurred. With no significant heat waves on the seven to 10 day forecast, flooding during the rest of the freshet season from hot temperatures alone appears unlikely. The primary concern for additional flooding this season is from significant rainfall events.
If you live in the Barriere area sandbags can be obtained by contacting the District of Barriere office at 250-672-9751, or contact the Thompson Nicola Regional District at (250)377-8673 or toll free in BC at 1-877-377-8673.
* A Flood Watch means that river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull. Flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur.
* A Flood Warning means that river levels have exceeded bankfull or will exceed bankfull imminently, and that flooding of areas adjacent to the rivers affected will result.