North Thompson rising but no major flooding expected yet, says River Forecast Centre

NEWS — A high streamflow advisory has been issued for the North Thompson River including the Clearwater River.

A high streamflow advisory means river levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly but that no major flooding is expected. Minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre says last weekend’s heavy rainfall and on-going snow melt has pushed river levels through the region to near or above mean-annual flow levels.

Unsettled weather is forecast for the weekend, with rainfall totals in the 15 to 40 mm range possible from today (Friday) through Monday.

The North Thompson at McLure is currently flowing at 1,725 cubic metres per second, said the centre. That could increase to 2,050 to 2,400 metres per second by Monday.

The North Thompson is expected to peak over the next two weeks. The South Thompson usually peaks from mid- to late June and the forecast centre says that should be the case this year.

Flows on the Clearwater River near Clearwater station are at 950 cubic metres per second and are forecast to reach 1,100 to 1,300 cubic metres per second by Monday.

“With saturated soils in the headwaters, and limited available capacity in the river systems, rivers in the region are sensitive to rainfall over the weekend.

“The amount and location where rainfall occurs will be a determining factor as to which rivers are impacted and the extent of river rise.”

Meanwhile, the centre ended a high streamflow advisory for the Salmon River near Falkand, saying easing of temperatures and a reduction of available snow pack in the upper Salmon River basin is leading to dropping river levels.

The River Forecast Centre said mid-May ushered in the snow-melt season across the province, with a vigorous melt in mid-elevation terrain in the southern Interior.

While precipitation was moderate early in the month, an upper low pressure system between May 16 and 19 produced more wide-spread rainfall with heavy rain in some areas.

Showery weather is predicted through the next several days with a hot spell towards the end of the month. The forecast centre expects steady increases in river levels in both the North and South Thompson.

The North Thompson, it said, is “sensitive to additional river rises due to rainfall.”