A new rainy system is expected in the region today, plus more warm weather, adding a lot of new water to already swollen local creeks and minor rivers.
According to Dave Campbell of the BC River Forecast Centre and Chris Duffy of Emergency Management BC, major rivers like the Nechako and the Fraser are not on flood alert, but tributaries are a different story.
"Over the latter part of the weekend we saw a lowering of [Cariboo region] levels," said Campbell. "We're anticipating in the order of 30 cms of rain pushing into the area. There is still significant snowpack, based on site visits done earlier in the weekend. We anticipate flow levels similar to or exceeding what we saw Friday and that will likely by mid- to late-day [today]."
The homes near Prince George are not in danger of flooding, especially compared to those in the Cottonwood Subdivision on the shores of the Cottonwood River near Quesnel. There, one house is hanging over the raging river because the water washed the land away between the normal channel and the home.
"There are other homes immanently at threat," said Duthy. "We have people evacuated from there; it is not safe to be there."
Even the workers trying to save the houses had to keep away during the weekend. Threats to property are not more important than threats to life, Duthy said.
"We would encourage people to take precautions around rivers, and to consider public safety at all times - keeping children and pets from going near the shore, because the water is very fast and banks are eroding," he said.
Campbell said the snow in lower elevations in this area had melted, the mid-level altitudes were in the process of melting, and the uppermost snowpack would soon be adding to the runoff. It was the above-average lower snowpack combined with the late spring that caused this flooding now.
"We are just seeing levels pass through what we would normally see, the lag has caught up to us and we are seeing normal flows for this time of year," in the major rivers, said Campbell.
A hot spell could change that to a flood situation, however, so the situation hinges on the weather over the next three to four weeks.
The Peace-region is experiencing the high water volumes considered normal for this time of year, although some of the incoming rain could creep into that watershed as well. The Bulkley system to the west was, said Campbell and Duthy, a watershed they consider a high concern with the levels of runoff combined with the expected rain.
