Thompson Rivers high waters could remain well into July

We may almost be out of the woods for serious flooding this season but river levels are expected to remain high through the summer.

The South Thompson River peaked in Kamloops June 26 at 7.78 metres, according to Environment Canada data. The river levels have since declined.

“That’s positive. That’s telling us there’s still a lot of snow that’s there at upper elevations but at the watershed level there’s not enough to fuel increased river levels but the rivers are still high… they remain vulnerable and as I think as we go through this week, we’ll be watching the rain flow patterns,” said Dave Campbell, with the B.C. River Forecast Centre.

Rain is in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday and it could increase water levels again, he said.

“We’re not expecting we’re fully out of the woods but we’re seeing positive signs… things should be good beyond that,” he said.

Levels take longer to drop in the South than in North Thompson. With delayed snowmelts, it could be three or four weeks, until mid or late July before river levels return to normal, he said.

A flood warning is still in effect for the North and South Thompson Rivers and the Shuswap. A high streamflow advisory is also in effect for the Nicola River.

“Across the province, we’re seeing positive signs we’re getting past the snowmelt risk,” Campbell said.

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