Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Amandalina Letterio

COLDWATER FLOOD

Icy roads expected in the Interior after flooding caused by B.C.’s ‘atmospheric river event’

Nov 15, 2021 | 5:16 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — Southern British Columbia continues to experience a “significant atmospheric river event” – which has been a big contributor to the Coldwater River Flood in Merritt.

The atmospheric system has its origins in the subtropics and with it comes precipitation and elevated freezing levels.

Environment Canada says its origins are seen as far as Hawaii.

“Our recent snowfall that we’ve had, which has blanketed parts of the coast mountains, certainly in the mid-to-upper elevations,” Environment Canada Meteorologist Lisa Erven explains. “We’re seeing snow melt due to those rising temperatures at those elevations. that all contributes to the water that eventually flows down through the various waterways.”

Two and Out

PETERS: Destruction of the Red Bridge clears the way for something much, much better

Sep 20, 2024

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: September 19, 2024

Sep 19, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Time to listen to the soldiers in the trenches

Sep 19, 2024

As the atmospheric system moves out within the next few days, Environment Canada says the roads could get ice.

“We do have a cold air mass coming in behind, so we’re going to see our freezing levels drop and precipitation over a higher terrain changing over to snow,” Evren says. “Also, in some of the valleys in the interior, we may see overnight temperatures dropping to zero or perhaps even below zero.”

Check DriveBC for all transportation updates, here.