LETHBRIDGE, AB – Several communities across British Columbia are experiencing more record weather, but this time it’s rainfall.
Only three months removed from a record hot summer and hundreds of forest fires, our neighbours to the west now have more water than they know what to do with.
B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety is calling the flooding situation in the province “dynamic.”
Mike Farnworth says between 80 and 100 vehicles are trapped near Agassiz east of Vancouver following the heavy rain that created flooding, mudslides and rockslides.
He says helicopter rescues may be required for some of the stranded people. Several other highways have been closed by landslides, including the Trans-Canada.
The heavy rain has touched off evacuation orders in several Lower Mainland communities, and flood warnings are out for the lower Fraser River and its tributaries. The entire City of Merritt, which was used as a evacuation community during the wildfires a few months ago, is now under an evacuation order. That city’s water treatment plant has been having major issues trying to keep up.
Weather reports suggest that by the time this is all said and done, some areas in B.C could see 200 mm of rain in just 36 hours. That equal to or more than the average rainfall for some communities in the entire month of November.
Flood waters are high.
A look at #Similkameen floodwaters near #PrincetonBC and Old Hedley Road.
Check @DriveBC for the latest impacts BC highways. #BCstorm pic.twitter.com/hjXSDJNsNE— BC Transportation (@TranBC) November 15, 2021
An Evacuation Order has been issued for the entire City of Merritt. Read the full media release here: https://t.co/z6YSc3y9Tl pic.twitter.com/NHEOvKygdu
— City of Merritt (@CityofMerritt) November 15, 2021