Latest news with #highstreamflow
CBC
21-06-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Flood watches, streamflow advisories in place amid heavy rain in B.C. Interior
Officials have issued flood watches and high streamflow advisories for parts of northern B.C. and the Interior as rains and thunderstorms pass through the province. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of up to 40 mm of rain and embedded thunderstorms in the southern Interior through Saturday afternoon. Flood watches — which mean river levels are rising and could go over the top of banks — have been maintained for the Upper Columbia and East Kootenay regions in the east, as well as a portion of central B.C. Meanwhile, high streamflow advisories, which indicate that river levels are rising, are in place for regions stretching from the Peace in northern B.C. to the Similkameen in the south. "We're watching this pretty broad area, because it is a large precipitation event coming in, and it's coming from this unusual direction," said Natasha Cowie, a hydrologist with the B.C. River Forecast Centre. "It's a bit of an unusual storm because it's coming in from the eastern side, hitting the Rockies," she added. "So Alberta is probably going to get quite wet, and then some of that rain is going to make it on over to us as well." Alerts lifted as favourable weather helps B.C. wildfire fight It's hard to predict the exact areas where flooding could occur, as forecasters don't know exactly how much rain will fall, and how the ground will absorb it, Cowie said. "Use a lot of caution around rivers and streams, especially if you're out with children or with pets," she said. "Just be aware that flows are probably going to be pretty high. There could be a lot of debris in the water." Environment Canada said showers will be widespread Saturday in the southern Interior, and thunderstorms will further increase precipitation rates. A severe thunderstorm watch was issued for the South Thompson region, including Kamloops, just before 11 a.m. PT. Jane Cook, a fire information officer with the B.C. Wildfire Service, said the rainfall was good news and is helping bring down fire danger in the province. She added, however, that the thunderstorms in the southern half of the province could lead to wind gusts of up to 70 km/h. "Although this precipitation can bring a reprieve from that elevated fire activity, [in] regions that are receiving heavy rainfall, particularly those that have been experiencing prolonged drought, it brings the potential for moderate flood hazard to emerge," she said. Cook said that firefighting personnel were on standby in case they needed to assist with flood support this weekend.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Flood watches, high streamflow advisories in effect in B.C. Interior
The B.C. River Forecast Centre's map of flood watches (orange) and high streamflow advisories (yellow) is shown on Saturday, June 21, 2025. The B.C. River Forecast Centre is maintaining flood watches for several regions in the Interior and adding high streamflow advisories for several others. In the centre's latest update Friday, new high streamflow advisories were issued for the Upper Fraser River, the South Thompson and Nicola regions and the West Kootenay, Okanagan and Similkameen regions. Those are in addition to existing high streamflow advisories for the Peace Region, including areas around Hudson's Hope, Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Dawson Creek and Fort St. John. A high streamflow advisory indicates that 'river levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly, but that no major flooding is expected,' according to the river forecast centre. Flood watches – which mean 'river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull' – remain in effect for the Upper Columbia River and its tributaries, as well as the East Kootenay region, 'Middle Fraser/Chilcotin region tributaries draining from the Coast Mountains east of Lillooet and Williams Lake,' and the Homathko River. The additional advisories come amid 'an unsettled low-pressure system' that is expected to bring 'wraparound precipitation from Alberta' to the B.C. Interior through Sunday, the river forecast centre said in its update. Special weather statements were in effect across much of the Southern Interior Saturday, with Environment and Climate Change Canada warning of 'moderate to heavy showers with embedded thunderstorms' across the Okanagan and Fraser Canyon regions. The river forecast centre says the weather pattern will create the potential for 'enhanced upslope rainfall on the eastern slopes' of B.C. mountain ranges, which are typically dryer than the western sides. River flows were expected to begin rising Friday and to peak 'Saturday into Sunday,' the forecast centre said. 'Current hydrological modelling indicates the possibility of flows reaching or exceeding the five-year to 20-year return period range in areas receiving the highest rainfall totals,' the centre's update reads. 'Uncertainty remains high for rainfall amounts and locations from now through the weekend. If rainfall totals reach or exceed the high-end scenario of current weather modelling, flows greater than the 20-year return period could be possible.'
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
B.C. forecasters issue high water advisories for numerous Interior rivers
A woman wears a plastic poncho as rain falls in Vancouver, on Monday, September 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck British Columbia's River Forecast Centre has issued a high streamflow advisories for a large swath of waterways in the province. The advisory covers Interior rivers and tributaries stretching as far north as the border with Alaska and south to the Canada-U.S. border and along part of the boundary with Alberta. Forecasters say rivers are expected to rise rapidly on Thursday and Friday because of rain, with high flows potentially extending through to Sunday. The advisory says low-pressure off the Alaska and B. C. coast is expected to lead to wraparound rainfall across the Interior. It says the amount of rain expected through the weekend remains uncertain, but flows seen only every five to 20 years are possible. The centre says areas with snow remaining, in particular the Upper Fraser and Upper Columbia rivers, are already dealing with high flows due to the recent hot weather melting the snow. Much of the province is at the tail end of what Environment Canada called an 'early season heat event' that saw temperatures soar for several days, breaking records in many communities. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June, 11, 2025
