Thompson River (Image Credit:: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

FLOOD WATCH

Water levels beginning to recede across B.C. Interior

Jun 27, 2022 | 4:11 PM

KAMLOOPS — The threat of flooding in Kamloops from the delayed snowmelt is nearing an end as the river levels in the city are beginning to recede. Currently, the South Thompson River is still under a flood watch, while the North Thompson is listed under a high streamflow advisory.

For weeks, City officials were worried that a perfect storm of bad weather, delayed snowmelt and simultaneous peaking of the North and South Thompson would see residents bracing for high water. Simply put, that didn’t occur and now the water is receding.

“It’s positive from the perspective that it’s giving us a bit of a story for how the sun is doing. So, seeing these levels drooping — particularly with some of the hot weather over the weekend — it’s an indication those risks associated with the snow are starting to dwindle,” said Dave Campbell, Head of the River Forecast Centre.

Despite the good news, Campbell noted the river levels could still increase over the next seven to 10 days, all dependent on weather systems entering the region.

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“Because the rivers are still quite high, quite full there isn’t a whole lot of additional capacity. We still remain vulnerable particularly to heavy rainfall events. That is kind of the wild card right now,” said Campbell.

“This energy from the heat has to go somewhere and that will be released in the form of showers and thunderstorms on Tuesday (June 27). And there will be possibly severe thunderstorms forming within the region,” said Environment Canada Meteorologist Derek Lee.

Lee did note that there is a system in the long range forecast for seven or eight days from now, but with that much lead room, the models can’t be precise.

“Largely just tracking that at the end of that day, eight or nine (days away) right now on the weather forecast does have that rainfall in there, our modelling is picking that up as something that could push rivers higher. We are going to need to see how that pans out,” added Campbell.

Campbell said the city will remain vulnerable for the next week to 10 days. While Kamloops will likely avoid floods, recreational river users could still be hampered through the summer as water levels are expected to remain above average.

“Looking at the longer range, certainly while the flood risk might subside as we go through into July, we do anticipate that the delay in melt will continue influencing the river. We do expect the river to be higher than normal through July,” said Campbell.