Rain Added To Snowmelt Spells Increased Flood RiskPrince George, B.C. (eCanadaNow) - The increased snow levels this past season combined with the recent rain has raised the upper Fraser River to flood stage as of early Tuesday.
The regional district and the city of Prince George both opened centres of emergency operations for residents to come to, and the residents of Shelley and Foreman Flats were being asked to prepare for possible evacuation.
At 2pm the level of the water at South Fort George was 9.3 metres and it was expected to rise to 9.5 metres by Tuesday evening, or even higher by Wednesday.
The river record peak was 9.86 metres in June 2007.
“The recent warmer weather recently has produced rapid melting snow over the entire province, and while temperatures are down the risk of flooding is high,” said weather centre officials in an issued statement.
The rise of the Fraser River at the Red Pass area continues to cause concern, but it is hoped that it will crest soon and that then the waters will begin to recede.
One of the concerns is that many mountain basins of snow that reach back into the hills still have a lot of remaining snow and that any additional rain or warm weather will cause additional rapid snow melt, contributing to more flooding.
