Flood focus turns to high elevation snowpack

May 16, 2017 | 4:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — City of Kamloops officials say the flood concern on small creeks and rivers inside the city is easing, but the major threat may still loom high in the mountains.

Emergency Operations Centre head Dan Sutherland updated council this afternoon.

Sutherland says the tension has decreased around Noble Creek and Campbell Creek.

He adds emergency works managed to save a home in Heffley Creek, though the community remains affected by the closure of Old Highway 5.

Sutherland says officials are keeping a wary eye toward the North and South Thompson Rivers as they rise due to snowmelt.

“With regards to high elevation snowpack, I am concerned, there is absolutely no doubt about that. We are very, very deep into our freshet time generally speaking. We still have over 90 to 95 per cent of our high elevation snowpacks in the North and South Thompson drainages. We are watching it very, very closely,” said Sutherland.

Meantime, Sutherland says movement of the slope around Palmer Forsythe Road north of Rayleigh has slowed dramatically.

He says officials are now trying to determine when evacuees from nine properties on Ramage Road can return home.