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

      Trump Has Conversation With Trudeau, Discuss The Economy And Exports

      Trump Has Conversation With Trudeau, Discuss The Economy And Exports
      The Prime Minister's Office says the two men spoke by phone Saturday, but it was not immediately clear how long the conversation lasted.

      Trump Has Conversation With Trudeau, Discuss The Economy And Exports

      Free Snowmobiling In Northern New England, Canada This Month

      EAGLE LAKE, Maine — Maine is using a pair of weekends in January to open up snowmobiling opportunities with its neighbours, including New Brunswick.

      Free Snowmobiling In Northern New England, Canada This Month

      'Sisters Of The North' Join Massive Women's March On Washington

      'Sisters Of The North' Join Massive Women's March On Washington
      Many simply yelled "thank you Canada" as they spotted the women, and at least one shouted "take us with you!"

      'Sisters Of The North' Join Massive Women's March On Washington

      Burnaby Man in Alleged Sexual Assault of Bus Operator Remanded in Custody

      Burnaby Man in Alleged Sexual Assault of Bus Operator Remanded in Custody
      A 40 year old Burnaby man has been remanded in custody following his arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting a Coast Mountain Bus Company (CMBC) operator in a moving bus.

      Burnaby Man in Alleged Sexual Assault of Bus Operator Remanded in Custody

      Huge Fire On Mitchell Island In Richmond

      Huge Fire On Mitchell Island In Richmond
      Police and fire crews are on the scene, but it is unclear what caused the fire and what exactly is burning.

      Huge Fire On Mitchell Island In Richmond

      77 Students Ill, With Symptoms Of Vomiting, Abdominal Pain At Toronto College

      77 Students Ill, With Symptoms Of Vomiting, Abdominal Pain At Toronto College
      At least 77 students at Humber College were affected, most of whom live at a residence at the institution's North Campus, said spokesman Andrew Leopold.

      77 Students Ill, With Symptoms Of Vomiting, Abdominal Pain At Toronto College

      PrevNext