Last week, the River Forecast Centre issued a High Streamflow Advisory for tributaries of the North Thompson River in the Barriere and Clearwater areas. This included Fishtrap Creek near McLure which at the time was flowing at a five-year flow(9m3/s) the morning of May 6.
The River Forecast Centre reported that snowmelt runoff had been contributing to rising flows in most areas over the past few weeks, and rainfall had also occurred over the region, with river levels responding to snowmelt and rainfall.
A frontal system was also expected to track over British Columbia, bringing the potential for some showers through the region, and higher rainfall amounts (possible 10-30mm) forecast for the area with tributaries to the North Thompson River around Barriere, Clearwater and McLure) and the Monashees and North Okanagan (including areas around Vernon, Lumby, Enderby, and Sicamous) possibly seeing significant river rises if heavier showers materialized in watersheds.
A high-pressure ridge then developed over British Columbia, temperatures warmed into the end of the week, with increasing flows for rivers with mid-to-high elevation snowpacks with snowmelt, with the warming trend expected to cool somewhat mid week.
As snowpacks start to melt area waterways are also starting to rise. Members of the public are advised to stay clear of fast-flowing streams and rivers and potentially unstable river and stream banks during this high-streamflow period.
Please make sure that children and pets remain safe during this time, and that all dogs are on a leash when walking near area waterways.
To learn more and access current reports go to: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/drought-flooding-dikes-dams/river-forecast-centre
