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
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.