Wednesday, June 24, 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

      Car Stolen In Newfoundland And Returned To Scene Of Crime A Day Later

      ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Police in Newfoundland are scratching their heads after a pizza delivery man's car was stolen from a St. John's street — and returned to the scene of the crime a day later.

      Car Stolen In Newfoundland And Returned To Scene Of Crime A Day Later

      Quebec Politician Pierre Paradis Suffers Concussion After Falling Off Horse

      Quebec Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis is stepping away from his cabinet duties temporarily after falling off a horse and suffering a concussion.

      Quebec Politician Pierre Paradis Suffers Concussion After Falling Off Horse

      Strong Evidence Of Problematic Conditions Persists In Real Estate Market: CMHC

      Strong Evidence Of Problematic Conditions Persists In Real Estate Market: CMHC
      Canada's federal housing agency says strong evidence of problematic conditions continues to exist in the national housing market.

      Strong Evidence Of Problematic Conditions Persists In Real Estate Market: CMHC

      Panel Calls For More Officers On Toronto Streets; Hiring Freeze

      A task force delving into the Toronto police service is recommending a hiring freeze and more officers walking the streets.

      Panel Calls For More Officers On Toronto Streets; Hiring Freeze

      $400m Fund, Tax Changes, Local News Service Urged To Help Restore Canada's Media

      $400m Fund, Tax Changes, Local News Service Urged To Help Restore Canada's Media
      OTTAWA — A major new report is calling for dramatic changes to help shore up Canada's news industry as it faces a massive decline in revenues and a growing "fake news" problem.

      $400m Fund, Tax Changes, Local News Service Urged To Help Restore Canada's Media

      Jury Says Three Of Four Accused Human Smugglers Not Guilty

      Jury Says Three Of Four Accused Human Smugglers Not Guilty
      Justice William Ehrcke declared a mistrial for the fourth man after the jury told the court Wednesday it couldn't reach a verdict in the case of Kunarobinson Christhurajah.

      Jury Says Three Of Four Accused Human Smugglers Not Guilty

      PrevNext