Monday, June 15, 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

      Forces Say They Wants To Oust 77 Members For Sexual Misconduct

      Forces Say They Wants To Oust 77 Members For Sexual Misconduct
      Many of the cases are older and none of the members have been released yet, as their files go through what the military says is due process.

      Forces Say They Wants To Oust 77 Members For Sexual Misconduct

      Vancouver Police Issue Public Warning Following East Vancouver Sexual Assaults

      Vancouver Police are warning the public after two women were approached by a suspicious man, and a third woman was sexually assaulted, early this morning in East ‎Vancouver.

      Vancouver Police Issue Public Warning Following East Vancouver Sexual Assaults

      Life Has No Meaning': Mother Of Missing UBC Student Makes Tearful Plea For Answers

      Life Has No Meaning': Mother Of Missing UBC Student Makes Tearful Plea For Answers
      Lupe Carrera travelled to Vancouver from Ecuador and spoke at a news conference at the University of British Columbia

      Life Has No Meaning': Mother Of Missing UBC Student Makes Tearful Plea For Answers

      WATCH: Housing, The Overdose Crisis, Leadership Feature In Feisty B.C. Leaders' Debate

      WATCH: Housing, The Overdose Crisis, Leadership Feature In Feisty B.C. Leaders' Debate
      B.C. Leaders Get Personal During Election Debate 2017 - John Horgan And Andrew Weaver Had The Feistiest Exchanges, Says Former Strategist

      WATCH: Housing, The Overdose Crisis, Leadership Feature In Feisty B.C. Leaders' Debate

      Punjab Government Orders Crackdown On Private Medical, Dental Colleges

      Punjab Government Orders Crackdown On Private Medical, Dental Colleges
      In a stern message, Amarinder said private medical and dental colleges found violating admission norms and not delivering quality education would be shut down, an official spokesman said.

      Punjab Government Orders Crackdown On Private Medical, Dental Colleges

      Indian-American Teacher Jailed For Wire Fraud

      Indian-American Teacher Jailed For Wire Fraud
      A 58-year-old Indian-American teacher was sentenced to 11 months in jail, which he has already served during the trial, for the wire fraud scheme involving the hiring of Indian nationals to teach in the US.

      Indian-American Teacher Jailed For Wire Fraud

      PrevNext