Watch for flooding in Mission Creek
Photo: Cindy White
Mission Creek where it flows into Okanagan Lake at the end of Bluebird Road in Kelowna’s Lower Mission on Sunday, July 3, 2022.
The British Columbia River Prediction Center has upgraded the high flow warning to a flood watch for Mission Creek.
Heavy rain fell late Sunday and into the Kelowna area Monday morning, raising creek levels.
Flows on Mission Creek near East Kelowna increased rapidly overnight, with current flows of 56m 3/s (approximate 2-year flow). The water may rise another 80-100 m3/s today and Tuesday depending on the weather.
The River Prediction Center says rainfall amounts ranging from 5 to 35 millimeters have been seen across the region since yesterday, with more to come.
A severe thunderstorm watch was issued Monday morning for the Okanagan, South Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Boundary.
Environment Canada says rainfall in some locations, including the Okanagan Valley, the Monte Creek area and the Shuswap, could result in heavy rain in excess of 15 mm per hour. Strong winds, intense lighting and small hail are also possible.
An upper low is expected to track across southwestern British Columbia today, bringing heavy rainfall with the potential for more intense showers and thunderstorms to the southern interior and Kootenays.
Okanagan Lake levels may be starting to creep back up after peaking late last month when Mission Creek and other waterways swelled due to rainfall and melting snowpack.
The upper low pressure system is forecast to move out of southern British Columbia by this evening.
High flow advisories remain in effect for the Similkameen River and tributaries, the Boundary, including the Kettle and Granby rivers, the West Kootenay, including the Slocan River and Duhamel Creek, and the East Kootenay, including the Kootenay River and its tributaries.
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