Sunday, June 14, 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

      Birinderjeet Bhangu Murder: Johnny Steven Drynock, 22, Charged With First-Degree Murder In Surrey

      Birinderjeet Bhangu Murder: Johnny Steven Drynock, 22, Charged With First-Degree Murder In Surrey
      SURREY, B.C. — A charge of first-degree murder has been laid against a 22-year-old man accused of shooting another man in a hotel parking lot in Surrey, B.C.

      Birinderjeet Bhangu Murder: Johnny Steven Drynock, 22, Charged With First-Degree Murder In Surrey

      The Changing Face of Whalley

      The Changing Face of Whalley
      Whalley finds its roots in 1925 when Arthur Whalley opened a gas station and a corner store at what became known as Whalley’s corner.

      The Changing Face of Whalley

      Man Charged After Pickup Truck Goes Into Automatic Car Wash With Dog In Back

      Man Charged After Pickup Truck Goes Into Automatic Car Wash With Dog In Back
      HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, N.L. — A man has been charged after a pickup truck went into an automatic car wash in Labrador with a dog exposed in the back.

      Man Charged After Pickup Truck Goes Into Automatic Car Wash With Dog In Back

      Toronto Police To Offer $50k Reward In 2016 Fatal Shooting Of Pregnant Woman

      Toronto Police To Offer $50k Reward In 2016 Fatal Shooting Of Pregnant Woman
      TORONTO — A year after shots fired at a car killed a 33-year-old pregnant woman, Toronto police are offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible.

      Toronto Police To Offer $50k Reward In 2016 Fatal Shooting Of Pregnant Woman

      Air Canada Plane Diverted After Ontario Man Allegedly Tries To Open Door

      TORONTO — An Ontario man is in federal custody in the United States after allegedly assaulting members of an Air Canada flight crew and trying to open the door of a plane while it was in flight.

      Air Canada Plane Diverted After Ontario Man Allegedly Tries To Open Door

      Andrew Weaver Says Greens Will Fight Pipeline; Calls Clark's Liberals 'Reckless'

      Andrew Weaver Says Greens Will Fight Pipeline; Calls Clark's Liberals 'Reckless'
      British Columbia's Green party leader says they plan to use their increased political clout in the provincial legislature to fight Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project

      Andrew Weaver Says Greens Will Fight Pipeline; Calls Clark's Liberals 'Reckless'

      PrevNext