Tuesday’s deluge of rain has resulted in the Okanagan Lake dam in Penticton nearing capacity but officials say releasing more water south is not an option.
They say they can’t release more water because the dam in Oliver has already reached full capacity.
Rain amounts varied with Salmon Arm receiving the brunt of Tuesday’s rain at 34 millimetres while Penticton received the least at 11 millimetres. Kelowna received 25 millimetres, Vernon 27 and Summerland at 14.
Get daily National news
The average rainfall for the month of May is 39 millimetres.
Officials say that Okanagan Lake is 18 centimetres from full pool.
Environment Canada says 60 per cent of the snowpack has already melted.
It says the worst of the rain has moved on but adds there will be a band of rain moving through the area Saturday with the North Okanagan getting the brunt of the downpour.
Tuesday’s storm also resulted in a number of power outages across the Okanagan Valley and Shuswap area. Click here for details.
The wet weather has also prompted the City of Kelowna to temporarily close all city sports fields and baseball diamonds.
A small slide has forced the closure of Highway 6, 40 kilometres west of the junction with Highway 23 in Nakusp. Crews hope to have single lane alternating traffic moving sometime between 5 and 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Comments