Monday, June 8, 2026
    ADVT 
    National

    Rain, Melting Snow Pose Flooding Concerns Across B.C. As Evacuations Lift

    Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 May, 2018 11:30 AM
      Many people forced from their homes by flooding in southern British Columbia have been allowed to return, but officials say there are still areas of concern in many parts of the province.
       
       
      Evacuation orders for about 171 addresses in Grand Forks were lifted Tuesday, with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary saying the threat of flooding had decreased.
       
       
      Residents of more than 500 properties across the province remained out of their home, and another 6,500 were on evacuation alert, warned that they may need to leave at a moment's notice.
       
       
      The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said drones were used to re-evaluate its evacuation alerts and orders. Residents would be allowed to return to their homes "as soon as the situation is appropriate," the regional district said.
       
       
      Farmers and ranchers have been hit hard by the rising waters, said Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. Cows were removed from two dairy farms on an island in the Fraser River near Surrey, she said.  
       
       
      "The flooding is taking a toll on farming and ranching families again," Popham said, adding many agriculture operations were also affected by last summer's historic wildfire season.
       
       
      Temperatures have been unseasonably high across much of the province in recent weeks, melting snow faster than waterways can cope with it, said David Campbell of the River Forecast Centre.
       
       
      "We, not surprisingly, have seen ongoing, dramatic, rapid snowmelt across the province over the last few weeks," he said.
       
       
      Enough snow has melted to reduce the risk for many areas that have seen significant flooding, Campbell said, but large melting snowpacks could still overwhelm the Thompson and Fraser rivers, and waterways in the Kootenay region.
       
       
      Severe rainfall is also a concern, he added, because June is known to bring wet weather across the province.
       
       
      "It's difficult, really, to kind of stand down from the seasonal risk until we're well past those weather risks," he said.
       
       
      Chris Duffy of Emergency Management BC said there are still about 300 Canadian Forces personnel and about 380 wildfire crews helping with the flood response.
      Prev Next

      MORE National ARTICLES

      'A Really Good Aura:' Calgary Office Tower Dog Friendly To Attract Tenants

      'A Really Good Aura:' Calgary Office Tower Dog Friendly To Attract Tenants
      CALGARY — Man's best friend is moving on up — to the 16th floor of a downtown Calgary office building.

      'A Really Good Aura:' Calgary Office Tower Dog Friendly To Attract Tenants

      Ontario Donating $150K To Irma Relief In Hard-hit Caribbean Islands

      Ontario Donating $150K To Irma Relief In Hard-hit Caribbean Islands
      TORONTO — The Ontario government is contributing $150,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to help people in the Caribbean recovering from hurricane Irma.

      Ontario Donating $150K To Irma Relief In Hard-hit Caribbean Islands

      Ontario Premier Tells Opposition Leader To Retract Comments Or Face Legal Action

      Ontario Premier Tells Opposition Leader To Retract Comments Or Face Legal Action
      TORONTO — Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is asking the leader of the Opposition to retract comments he made about her or face legal action.

      Ontario Premier Tells Opposition Leader To Retract Comments Or Face Legal Action

      Toronto Cop Who Had Cocaine In Wallet Expected To Plead Guilty To Misconduct

      Det.-Const. Kirk Blake, who now faces two charges under the Police Services Act, made a brief appearance before a police tribunal Wednesday.

      Toronto Cop Who Had Cocaine In Wallet Expected To Plead Guilty To Misconduct

      Surrey Driver Who Prompted 'Numerous' Complaints Ticketed And Vehicle Impounded

      Surrey Driver Who Prompted 'Numerous' Complaints Ticketed And Vehicle Impounded
      Over the past year police agencies throughout the Lower Mainland received numerous complaints regarding the same white vehicle registered to an owner in Surrey. 

      Surrey Driver Who Prompted 'Numerous' Complaints Ticketed And Vehicle Impounded

      Delta Police Investigating Mail Thefts

      Delta Police Investigating Mail Thefts
      On September 11, 2017 Delta Police responded to four separate incidents of mail box theft that had occurred sometime overnight on September 10, 2017 at four apartment buildings in the area

      Delta Police Investigating Mail Thefts

      PrevNext