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Shuswap
UPDATE: Heavy rains, thunderstorms in forecast
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - As much as 50 millimetres of rain could fall over the next two days as a low pressure system moving through southern B.C. is set to produce heavy showers and thunderstorms. Environment Canada issued a special weather statement this morning noting the potential for locally heavy rainfall of 25-50 mm with thunderstorms, which...
Tropical Tuesday comes close to records
VERNON TOPS PREVIOUS HIGH THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With temperatures soaring into the mid-30s yesterday, it was a close call for many communities but Vernon was alone in setting a new record. With temperatures reaching a high of 34.8 Celsius, Vernon beat the previous record of 34.4 C, set in 1920. Vernon will be a bit cooler...
Hot, dry June could lead to more fires in July
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Hot, dry and stormy. June was not an ideal month throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre and concerns July could be a very active fire season are still very real. Overall temperatures were slightly above normal and slightly less rain fell. Combined with periods of lightning activity this led to more than 40 new...
UPDATE: Fire burning near Sicamous smaller than originally thought
KAMLOOPS - A fire burning in a cut block east of Shuswap Lake that is ‘quite visible’ from Sicamous was likely started by lightning last night and B.C. Wildfire crews expect more of these types of fires could pop up over the next week. “There was quite a bit last night and we’re forecasting lightning...
Seven week evacuation order lifted
SHUSWAP - An evacuation order for half a dozen Shuswap properties located near McIntyre Creek has finally lifted. The order, prompted by a major debris flow in the creek April 23, was in effect for seven weeks while emergency management crews assessed the risk and the Ministry of Transportation conducted repairs. Properties near the debris...
School board positions on the chopping block
NORTH OKANAGAN-SHUSWAP - The number of trustees in school district 83 could dwindle by the end of the summer. The North Okanagan-Shuswap school district is considering reducing its board to seven trustees down from nine to save $23,420 and help balance the 2014/2015 budget. A review of B.C. school districts revealed SD 83 has more...
WIND WARNING ENDED: Squall was expected to bring strong winds
UPDATE: The wind warning has been rescinded. THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Much of the Southern Interior will be under a wind warning later today with expected wind gusts of up to 90 km/h for Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton and 80 km/h for Kamloops as a squall line crosses into the region. Environment Canada issued a special weather...
A student’s thoughts on the teacher strike
“I AM SCARED TO ENTER A PROFESSION HATED BY THE PUBLIC” SALMON ARM - An anonymous high school student in Salmon Arm has a message for teachers. “What I want to say to each and every one of you is that I appreciate you and everything you do for your students,” wrote the grade 12...
Theft stops Shuswap business in its tracks
SHUSWAP - A local business owner is calling a theft from her business planned and devastating. “They broke into the compound, smashed into the truck… moved the trailer and cut all the locks… it was planned for sure,” Barb Rivest of Shuswap Unique Adventure Tours says. “It was my whole business right there, so that...
UPDATE: Teacher strikes begin Monday
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Teachers announced today they will conduct a rotating strike next week in an effort to move along negotiations with the province. The strike begins Monday, May 26 in School District 67 (Okanagan Skaha) and will be followed by the Central Okanagan (SD23) and North Okanagan-Shuswap (SD83) districts Tuesday. On Wednesday, May 28 teachers...
Rivers rising following rain and snow-melt
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has released a high stream flow advisory for rivers within the Thompson- Okanagan region. The high stream is attributed to high temperatures melting the region’s mid-level snow pack. Levels will also be affected by a moderate amount of rain (10-50 mm) expected over...
Infotel contest winner plans family trip
KAMLOOPS - Eva Ujiye and her family were not planning a big trip this year, they couldn’t think of what to do. So when she was named the grand prize winner of the InfoTel Multimedia’s houseboat vacation contest she knew it was the perfect opportunity for a family getaway. “I’m so excited,” she says. “We...
Debris from Kingfisher landslide endangers boaters
SHUSWAP - Debris from the massive landslide east of Enderby has made its way into Mara Lake. It’s been almost two weeks since a massive deluge of logs, mud and water washed out a portion of Mabel Lake Road and the bridge over Cook Creek. Some of that debris flowed downstream into Mara Lake and...
Halley’s Comet debris trail sets the sky aglitter tonight
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A peak at the annual debris trail from Halley’s Comet may be possible tonight and early Tuesday morning if skies clear. Every spring bits of the debris trail burn up resulting in the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower. This year the peak will occur tonight, Monday, May 5, through Tuesday morning. The bright...
Shuswap residents still can’t go home
SHUSWAP - An evacuation order is still in effect for some residents located near a debris flow. The evacuation began last Wednesday for people living around McIntyre Creek near Salmon Arm. According to a geotechnical engineer and environmental geoscientist, a collection of debris is still lodged in the creek. They also identified water pooling around...