With heavy rains and warmer temperatures in the forecast for coastal and interior British Columbia, the Nicola and Similkameen Valley tributaries are on the watch list for potential issues related to dislodged ice.
Dave Campbell with the B.C. River Forecast Centre said Monday that while much of the rainfall is anticipated on the south coast and Vancouver Island, headwaters of Coldwater River into Merritt and the Tulameen and Simlikameen rivers into Princeton and Keremeos are on their radar, but the major concern is lower elevations.
"In a lot of that higher elevation, we're expecting precipitation is going to come in snow, or will be absorbed by the snowpack that is up there at higher elevation," Campbell said, explaining low-lying areas may be more at risk of flooding events.
"Temperatures in the valley bottoms are expected to jump up to 4 to 6 degrees in Merritt, Keremeos. It's a pretty big switch from kind of the -10 C, -15 C or as much as -20 C the last week or so. That's quite a rapid warming."
Of specific concern is ice jam events that may change suddenly.
"We're more concerned about, is there shifting or jamming that's going on, if that starts to free up or get jammed up, if that dislodges and works its way [downriver], we're certainly most concerned about ice dynamics," Campbell said.
The forecast centre has a watchful eye on the situation, and Campbell said any major events, should they take place, are likely to happen Wednesday or Thursday, which seems to be the peak anticipated temperature.
"We haven't issued any kind of advisory [at this time]," Campbell said.
"That may get released as we get more information."
Merritt, Princeton and other Nicola and Similkameen Valley communities experienced unprecedented flooding in November 2021.
