Warm Weather Means Rapid Melt

Saturday, May 17, 2008 05:59 AM

Prince George, B.C. - Aklthough it may be tempting to be near the water this long weekend, there is a very real possibility of flooding.

The river Forecast Centre has issued an advisory as an accelerated snowmelt is underway.Environment Canada continues to forecast very high temperatures (near record highs) for the south and central Interior Saturday, with daytime highs expected to be 30+ degrees at valley bottom in the south (Kamloops, Kelowna, and 25+ degrees in the Prince George area. The current forecast is for temperatures to fall on Sunday, but to remain above seasonal normals. Temperatures are then expected to drop to normal or possibly cooler than normal for Monday and Tuesday.

The cold spring weather has resulted in snowpacks being above normal for mid-May, and has resulted in a 3-week delay in the onset of the spring snowmelt period. In some areas, mid-elevation snow (1000-1500 metres elevation) is well above normal.

The high temperatures that began Thursday and that will persist over the weekend will produce rapid snow melt across a range of elevations throughout much of the B.C. Interior. With the above freezing night-time temperatures, snowmelt will continue during the night. This weekend marks the first significant snowmelt event of the spring.

The snowmelt has begun to produce rising water levels on most streams throughout the Interior. Levels will continue to rise through to Monday. The forecast drop in temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will ease snowmelt, and will allow rivers to stabilize.

High flows and possible localized flooding along some unprotected small and mid-sized creeks and streams throughout the Interior valleys is anticipated for the weekend. In particular, the south and central Interior has the highest risk of this, including the East and West Kootenay, Okanagan, Similkameen, Nicola & Coldwater valleys, North and South Thompson basins, Shuswap, and others.

As of 8AM Friday, the following rivers have risen to bankfull levels:

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Willow River above Hay Creek (in the upper Fraser basin, above Prince George), is rising and is at a discharge of 291 cubic metres per second (m3/s). This is approaching a 5-year return period level.

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Baker Creek at Quesnel, is rising and is at a discharge of 79 m3/s. This is near a 10-year return period level.

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Salmon River at Falkland, is rising and is at a discharge of 24 m3/s. This is near a 3-year return period level.

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Larger mainstem rivers along valley bottoms will also begin to rise over the weekend and into early nextweek, although flooding is not forecast at this time.

The River Forecast Centre will monitor conditions over the holiday weekend and will issue updates as conditions warrant.

Salmon River at Salmon Arm, is rising and is at a discharge of 28 m3/s. This is approaching a 2- year return period level.

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Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 05:59 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: northern taxpayer on May 17 2008 6:29 AM

well as old red my horse would tell me ya better listen to your grandpa and build the house and barn up high so we all can sleep in a dry bed.ya see gordy never had a granpa to listen to so his bed was always wet even on high ground.seems like they just don't have common sense on the curriculam in them high larning schools, guess i was fortunate to have ol red & my granpa for consultants.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on May 17 2008 7:49 AM

I assume the Alcan and BC Hydro reservoirs have lots of room for more water?