Flood warnings issued for 3 rivers in B.C. Interior
The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued flood warnings for three rivers in the province's Interior near the already-flood-damaged City of Merritt.
The warnings are for the Tulameen, Coldwater and Lower Nicola rivers. A flood watch is in effect for the nearby Similkameen River,
"Temperatures increased during the storm event and likely contributed to snowmelt at mid‐elevations and rain‐on‐snow runoff," the centre said in a statement Sunday evening.
"Rivers have risen quickly but are not expected to reach the levels from the Nov. 13‐15 event."
Despite this, the river forecast centre says the affected rivers "still may cause significant flooding."
Earlier in the day, Merritt advised all residents in areas of the city under evacuation orders to leave. The city had been allowing some residents to access their properties during the day, despite the evacuation orders. Those residents will not be allowed to return until further notice.
According to the river forecast centre, the Coldwater River was flowing at 138 cubic metres per second, and rising, at the time the flood warning was issued. That's a "50-year flow" on the river, the centre said.
Other stations mentioned in the centre's statement showed rivers at 10-year flows or lower.
"The public is advised to stay clear of the fast‐flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks during the high‐streamflow period," the forecast centre said.
Flood warnings are issued when river levels have exceeded bankfull or will do so imminently. Flood watches are issued when river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.