Saturday, May 28, 2011

High Streamflow Advisory - Cariboo Region

The BC River Forecast Centre is issuing a High Streamflow Advisory for the Central Interior Region. Specific areas included in this advisory include areas to the east and west of Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House.

River levels elevated for the past 2 weeks due to on-going snowmelt and a number of rainfall events within the region. Snow melt rates from 15-25 mm/day have been observed at automated snow pillows within the region over the past several days. Snow and soils are saturated, and this can lead to more rapid response of river levels to rainfall or snowmelt.

The Quesnel River near Quesnel Water Survey of Canada gauge (08KH006) is between a 2-year and 5-year discharge of approximately 800 m3/s, and is slowly rising. Quesnel Lake near Likley (WSC 08KH011) is continuing to rise at 3cm/day.

A weak upper low pressure system is working its way across Central British Columbia. Environment Canada is forecasting convective showers through the region today, with localized rainfall amounts in the 10-15 mm range.

Rainfall rates observed will be highly variable by location based on the convective nature of this event. River level responses will also be variable, depending on how much rain falls within a given watershed. River levels in the region are expected to remain elevated, and potentially rise in response to this rainfall and on-going snow melt at elevation.

The River Forecast Centre will continue to monitor conditions and will provide updates as warranted.

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