Flood watch issued for Merritt, Cache Creek

MERRITT – Hot temperatures are leading to higher water levels in B.C.'s Interior rivers and streams, and now a flood watch has been issued for parts of the Central Interior.

B.C.'s River Forecast Centre upgraded the high streamflow advisory issued yesterday for much of the Southern Interior to a flood watch in the Central Interior including waterways in Cache Creek and Merritt.

Today, April 27, is expected to be the last day of significantly hot weather, according to the forecast centre.

A ridge of high pressure led to seasonally hot temperatures across the province's Interior, which led to rapid melt of snow pack at mid-elevation, and the onset of the snow melt season at upper elevations.

Temperatures are expected to ease closer to seasonal levels over the weekend, the centre says. A low pressure system is expected to move across Washington and Oregon this weekend, which could bring showers across Southern B.C. on Saturday and Sunday.

The Okanagan and Similkameen areas are still under high streamflow advisories.

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