The River Forecast Centre is maintaining or upgrading to a flood watch for:
- Upper Fraser River and tributaries upstream of Prince George including the McGregor River, Willow River, Bowron River and surrounding tributaries (NEW)
- Middle Fraser including the Cariboo mountains and tributaries east of Quesnel (including Quensel River, Little Swift River) and surrounding areas (MAINTAINED)
- Middle Fraser plateau areas west of Quesnel, Williams Lake, Lhoosk’uz Dene (including Baker Creek, Cottonwood River, San Jose River) and surrounding areas (MAINTAINED)
- Nazko River and West Road River (MAINTAINED)
The River Forecast Centre is maintaining a High Streamflow Advisory for the North Interior
including:
- Upper Fraser watershed including plateau areas around Prince George (including Chilako River, Chuchinka River, Salmon River and surrounding areas) (MAINTAINED)
An upper trough pattern persists this weekend and into early next week. Shower activities will continue under this pattern. For this weekend in the B.C. interior, the areas receiving heavier rainfall amounts will be determined by the location of the surface low, enhancing the uplifting mechanism and giving more rain. Areas at risk of heavier rain include the Cariboo Mountains and Rocky Mountains in the Upper Fraser River watershed.
River flows throughout the region are flowing at or approaching the two-year to five-year flow level. Plateau tributaries have shown signs of diminished snowpack, with stabilized river levels over the past few days. This includes the San Jose River, Baker Creek, Salmon River, Nazko River and West Road River. In tributaries draining from higher terrain, on-going rises have been underway due to accelerated snowmelt over the past week. This includes the Bowron River, Quesnel River, McGregor River and the mainstem of the Fraser River.
Accelerated rises in river levels are anticipated on Sunday and into Monday due to forecasted rainfall on Saturday and Sunday. Flows in up to the 10-year to 20-year level are forecast as possible over this period in the Upper Fraser River tributaries, and in tributaries draining from the Cariboo Mountains. In other areas, small additional rises above current river levels are possible.
The public is advised:
River levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly. Being near these riverbanks, creeks and fast-flowing bodies of water is dangerous:
- Stay clear of fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks
- Avoid recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, boating or hiking near high streamflow rivers or streams
- Remember, high streamflow can easily trap strong swimmers, increasing risk of drowning
Understand the risks and get prepared by visiting www.PreparedBC/floods.
For emergency information and related resources, go to: www.EmergencyInfoBC.ca