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Flood warnings for Nazko River and West Road River



The River Forecast Centre has issued a flood warning for the Nazko River and West Road River areas near Quesnel.

In the Central Interior (Cariboo), very high flows are being observed. At the West Road River near Cinema (Water Survey of Canada gauge 08KG001), flows are estimated to be 430 m3/s (50-year flow) and rising. On the Bonaparte River below Cache Creek (WSC 08LF002), flows are estimated to be 30-35 m3/s (approximately a five-year flow), with levels easing slightly since Saturday.

The River Forecast Centre is maintaining a Flood Watch for: Central Interior including the Bonaparte River, and tributary rivers around Cache Creek, Merritt, Williams Lake, Quesnel and surrounding areas.
The River Forecast Centre is maintaining a High Streamflow Advisory for:

  • South Interior
  • Boundary
  • Kootenay
  • Peace

Temperatures cooled on Saturday after seasonally hot temperatures last Wednesday to Friday. Snow melt rates remained elevated at most automated snow weather stations on Saturday, with snow melt rates in the 5-10 mm/day range in high elevation locations, and 10-30 mm/day at mid-elevation sites. Snowmelt rates are expected to ease Sunday and the first part of next week.
High streamflow is being observed in many river systems fed by low-to-mid elevation terrain.
These areas include:

  • Okanagan – including tributaries in the Oliver, Osoyoos, Summerland, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon and surrounding areas
  • Similkameen – including the Tulameen and tributaries
  • Boundary – including the West Kettle River, Kettle River, Granby River and surrounding tributaries
  • Kootenay – including the Moyie River and mid-elevation tributaries in the Castlegar, Trail, Salmo, Creston, Cranbrook and surrounding areas
  • Peace – including tributary rivers draining plateau areas around Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and surrounding areas

Modelling is indicating the potential for flows to increase on Sunday and into Monday. Warming temperatures are forecast for later next week, and may lead to another period of increased snow melt.

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