Southern Interior temperatures rising, adding to concerns of flooding

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – You’ve waited long enough. Now, spring is really here.

NEWS 1130 Meteorologist Russ Lacate is expecting temperatures in the high-teens or low-twenties this week and plenty of sunshine. While you might want to get out and enjoy it there are some other things to consider:

“If we turn our focus to the BC Southern Interior, it is the same sunny forecast all week. But it’s even warmer — mid-day highs of 20 to as much as 27 degrees, including a soaring freezing level up and over the peaks. That’s really going to accelerate the snowmelt.”

That melting snowpack is a growing concern across the Okanagan.

The weather outside is beautiful in the area — but with a near-record snowpack, Oliver and the surrounding area are bracing for plenty of melting snow.

Mayor Ron Hovanes says preparations are under way in many areas in anticipation.

“The west side of the valley was at 152 per cent of snowpack. And then on the east side of the valley, it was something like 138 per cent. So, it was way over the normal snowpack already. And I know we’ve had significant precipitation over the last month.”

“This was all started having the ground saturated,” he explains. “It started with a really big rain event about three weeks ago. Now, we’re just starting to get the runoff. So, we’re really concerned.”

More than 30 properties were evacuated over the weekend north of Oliver due to flooding. Twelve of those orders are still in effect.

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