The South Thompson River has risen significantly since May 9 (left), and waters are expected to continue rising into next week. The "Go Blazers" printing on the pillars which used to make up a bridge across the river is now virtually covered by water.
(ASHLEY LEGASSIC - REPORTER / iNFOnews.ca)
May 17, 2018 - 5:30 PM
KAMLOOPS - A fast-melting snow pack, hot weather, and potential rain are the perfect recipe for localized flooding in the Southern Interior in the coming days and weeks.
Head of the B.C. River Forecast Centre, David Campbell said in a telephone news conference today, May 17, that during the next seven to 10 days, some lower level areas of Kamloops could be impacted by flooding.
Higher flows could pose challenges for the North Thompson as next week begins, Campbell said, and the same could be seen in the South Thompson next weekend, adding that the rivers are about seven to 10 days out from elevated concern.
"The trend of rapid melt everywhere in the province is of big concern," Campbell said. "At this stage it's not imminent in the way that we've got in other areas of the province."
According to Campbell, the North Thompson River at McClure has risen 70 centimetres over the past seven days, while the South Thompson River at Chase has risen nearly a metre and a half over the same period.
At this point, the South Thompson has been rising at approximately 20 to 30 cubic metres per second each day, and the North Thompson is rising in the range of 100 cubic metres per second each day. Campbell says this puts the North Thompson at approximately a five-year low, with the potential for a 10- to 20-year flow range into the weekend and into next week, which would be a 20 per cent increase in flow.
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