Officials in Princeton are monitoring the river levels of the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers in advance of an incoming atmospheric river.
The town is monitoring the Tulameen River below Vuich Creek, the Similkameen River above Goodfellow Creek, the Pasayten River above Calcite Creek and the Similkameen River at Princeton, where the two rivers join.
Some of these sites are already showing record high levels.
“We are asking people to please stay away from the river and stream banks until this weather system has passed,” a Facebook post from the town reads. “Stream flows have increased in both volume and speed.”
The long-range weather forecast from Environment Canada shows rain throughout the weekend, with temperatures between 7 degrees Celsius and 0.
Motorists are being urged to check DriveBC and be prepared as conditions can change rapidly.
Information will also be posted on the Voyent Alert app. To register for this service, visit register.voyent-alert.com.
The town has already set up a Level One Emergency Operations Centre.
Staff in Princeton are working with regional partners at the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, the Tulameen and District Fire Department and the province.
The risk of flooding has also been noted by the B.C. River Forecast Centre. On Dec. 10, the centre upgraded the Ashnola, Similkameen and Tulameen Rivers to flood watch status.
Rockfall from the passing storm system has been reported at Tulameen, Highway 3 near Eastgate, on Ashnola Road and on Nickel Plate Road past Hedley.