As British Columbia bakes under what’s being described as a “dangerous” heat wave, a flood watch has been issued for the upper Fraser Valley.
The BC River Forecast Centre issued the watch at noon Saturday, warning that hot temperatures have triggered “significant amounts of snowmelt at higher elevations.”
Weather stations at high elevations recorded maximum temperatures of between 24 C and 32 C, resulting in snowmelt of between 55 mm and 85 mm, the forecast centre said.
Get breaking National news
“The current forecast at McBride has the following maximum temperatures, Sunday: 36 C, Monday: 39 C, Tuesday: 40 C, Wednesday: 38 C,” the centre said.
“These high temperatures will increase the snowmelt, which will cause river levels to continue to rise in the coming days.”
Elevated river flow rates have been recorded on the Fraser River and its tributaries, including the Dore River near McBride, McKale River, near the 940-metre contour, and Morkill River below Hellroaring Creek.
It comes as multiple properties in the Pemberton Valley were put under an evacuation order due to rising river levels in that region.
The public is being warned to stay away from fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable river banks.
- Billionaire Chip Wilson’s feud with BC NDP escalates with new sign
- B.C. hit-and-run driver racked up 15 infractions in 18 months — some after fatal crash
- B.C. fisherman finds 2 black bears thrown into river with paws, gallbladder missing
- Rustad vows crime crackdown while Eby pledges more education assistants and child care
Comments