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The village of Cache Creek in BC is on high flooding alert after experts warn the region could see record flood levels this week.
Last Friday, Cache Creek mayor John Ranta declared a state of local emergency as floodwaters closed several provincial highways. Snowmelt in the area is making local tributaries swell, and residents are bracing for the worst.
"There's debris all over the street and it's quite a mess," Ranta said, urging locals to lay down sandbags and prepare for the worst.
CBC News reported that water levels in the area peaked last Friday but later receded on Saturday. Although it may look like the flood could soon pass, an expert cautioned that conditions could get worse.
David Campbell, BC River Forecast Centre head, warned that computer modelling shows the nearby Bonaparte River could be on track for record flooding this week. He also prefaced that flooding season is just beginning.
"We still have a couple of months left of this,” he said.
The volume of water flowing into the Bonaparte River is projected to double in the next week – potentially setting a 90-year high. The swelling has been attributed to prior wildfire damage, Campbell explained.
Campbell cautioned places at the highest flood risk are next to smaller, mid-elevation rivers and streams, particularly those nearest Williams Lake, Quesnel, Cache Creek and Merritt. He also mentioned that several places in Okanagan are also vulnerable.
He told CBC News the “critical period” could be either this week or the next.
