Flood warnings in northwest B.C. as heat melts snow quickly

A flood watch covered the Skeena region of northwestern British Columbia Tuesday as unseasonably warm temperatures swelled rivers in many areas of the province.

B.C.'s River Forecast Centre posted the warning for the Skeena and Bulkley rivers and their tributaries across Wet'suwet'en and Gitxsan territories, as well as from Telkwa to Terrace.

The rising waters prompted the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine to issue an evacuation order for most properties in the small settlements of Old Remo and New Remo on opposite sides of the Skeena river just west of Terrace.

Flooding on the Skeena River could reach a 20-year high as early as Wednesday, the River Forecast Centre said.

The ongoing hot weather is accelerating snowmelt across most of B.C., it said, estimating that the Bulkley River near Smithers could reach 10-year flow levels by Wednesday or Thursday.

Several waterways in southern B.C. were also upgraded to a flood watch as the River Forecast Centre warned the Kettle and Granby rivers in the Boundary basin and the Slocan River near Crescent Valley would continue to rise through the weekend.

Flood watches remained in effect for the Lower Thompson region of southern B.C., including Cache Creek, and the Deadman and Bonaparte rivers.

A section of the Bella Coola River on the central coast was also under a flood watch, while high streamflow advisories covered much of the rest of the province.

Environment Canada meanwhile lifted a severe thunderstorm warning later Tuesday, downgrading it to a watch for the Boundary region.

The previous warning said storm spotters had reported golf ball-sized hail near Big White Ski Resort, southeast of Kelowna.

The storms came after 37 heat records were set across B.C. on Monday, including in Smithers and Terrace, where the mercury hit 29.5 C, shattering a record that had stood in the Terrace area since 1925.

B.C. claimed the 10 hottest spots in Canada on Monday, with the Fraser Canyon community of Lytton topping the list at 36.5 C.

A statement from BC Hydro on Tuesday said power consumption in the province reached an all-time hourly high for May on Monday night, as people used fans and air conditioners to cool down.

Consumption hit 7,600 megawatts, and though temperatures have since cooled, the Crown utility said it expects above-average demand for the rest of the week.

The B.C. government on Tuesday also announced financial support for people affected by recent flooding in a dozen communities, including Cache Creek, West Kelowna, Grand Forks and six First Nations bands.

The Ministry of Emergency Management said disaster financial assistance is available to those affected by floods between April 27 and May 16, 2023.

It's available to homeowners, tenants, business owners and others who were unable to obtain insurance to cover disaster-related losses, it said.

Those seeking compensation after a flooding event have 90 days to apply.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2023.