File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

B.C. Flood

Weekend rains not expected to bring flood conditions around Kamloops

Jun 15, 2020 | 11:02 AM

KAMLOOPS — The province says the soaking received in the B.C. Interior over the weekend will start to come through the major rivers in Kamloops today and tomorrow.

According to the B.C. River Forecast Centre’s Dave Campbell, the headwaters of the North and South Thompson Rivers received more rainfall than Kamloops itself.

“About 15-to-20 millimetres around Kamloops but closer to 15-to-40 millimetres up the North Thompson, 20-to-50 millimetres in most of the South Thompson tributairies,” Campbell told CFJC Today. “So definitely a pretty good soaking.”

That runoff will have the most immediate impact on the North Thompson, but Campbell says it has to make its way through a few lakes before it impacts the South Thompson.

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Jimmy Carter was one of a kind

21h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: January 2, 2025

Jan 02, 2025

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Just try to be a little better each day

Jan 02, 2025

“The North Thompson is kind of approaching the peak from the rainfall that we saw over the last couple of days. I think it’s going to be another day or two before we fully see that on the South Thompson side,” Campbell noted.

The River Forecast Centre reinstituted a high streamflow advisory for the North Thompson last Friday (June 12), and maintained the same advisory already in place for the South Thompson.

Campbell says he doesn’t believe the North Thompson will crest higher than the peak it has already seen.

“We could get higher on the South Thompson side but, at this point, we’re not anticipating having to upgrade to a flood watch. But certainly I think the high streamflow advisory will stay out through the region for the next few days,” he said.

Environment Canada is forecasting the clouds and showers to break Tuesday (June 16), with sunshine and above-seasonal temperatures predicted for the rest of the week.

At this time of year, Campbell says river levels are more influenced by rainfall events than by snowmelt.

“It’s expected to be a bit drier of a week, which is great,” said Campbell. “I think really, just getting this water that we’ve seen over the weekend through is going to be where we see most of the rises.”