Water from Mission Creek flowing into Okanagan Lake, June 15, 2022.

Image Credit: Regional District of Central Okanagan

Okanagan Lake has risen to full pool due to the recent heavy rainfall and run-off.

Okanagan Lake has not peaked yet, and is far from the record levels set during flooding in 2017, but with the rain forecast for the today, June 16, and tomorrow, municipal crews will continue to keep an eye on creek, river and lake levels.

In Penticton, city staff and firefighters are armouring the lakefront with sandbags or tiger dams to prevent damage if levels continue to rise, according to a City of Penticton news release.

READ MORE: Raging Mission Creek forces suspension of search for missing Kelowna woman

Residents in low-lying and waterfront areas that may be affected by flooding from rising lake levels are being encouraged to stay informed. Sandbags will be available to residents should water levels reach the threshold for response activation.

Anyone boating on Okanagan Lake is being asked to keep speeds down to prevent shoreline erosion and be extra vigilant as there may be logs and other debris floating in the lake at this time. It is recommended residents ensure all boats and docks are properly secured against rising water levels.

Homes located in the low lying areas with high ground water may start to see water seepage into their basements due to the higher than usual lake levels.

READ MORE: Localized flooding continues in southern Interior

As a preventative measure, homeowners should inspect their basement or crawl space sump pumps to ensure they are operating correctly.

The advice comes as the River Forecast Centre lifts high streamflow advisories for the Okanagan, Similkameen, Boundary and Columbia regions, but maintains them for waterways in the east and west Kootenay, Thompson and along the Fraser River from Quesnel to the ocean.

High streamflow advisories alerting residents to possible rapid increases in river levels, have also been added for the Bella Coola and Dean rivers on the central coast and for the Bulkley River and its tributaries north and south of Smithers.

A flood warning covering the Liard River and its tributaries between Fort Nelson and Watson Lake in northeastern B.C., remains unchanged, as does the high streamflow advisory for most waterways across the extreme northwest corner of the province.

In the Central Okanagan, go to the emergency operations website here for more information and updates.

Updates will be provided as required through City of Penticton communication channels including social media, news releases and the website. The city offers an Emergency Text Notification service to alert residents about evacuation alerts and orders through their mobile phones. Residents can sign up online here to receive text notifications directly. To report flooding contact the city at 250-490-2400 (after hours call 250-490-2324) or call 9-1-1 if you feel your personal safety is at risk.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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