Flood Watch - Bella Coola
Issued: 2:30 PM May 15, 2023
The River Forecast Centre is upgrading to a Flood Watch for:
• Bella Coola River and tributaries, including the Atnarko River and surrounding areas
The public is advised:
River levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly. Being near these riverbanks, creeks and fastflowing bodies of water is dangerous:
• Stay clear of fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks
• Avoid recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, boating or hiking near high streamflow rivers or streams
• Remember, high streamflow can easily trap strong swimmers, increasing risk of drowning
River Conditions:
Streamflow in the Central Coast, Nuxalk Territory, and Tsilhqot’in Territory have been rising due to snowmelt. Current flows at Dean River below Tanswanket Creek (Water Survey of Canada gauge 08FC003) is flowing at approximately 157 m3/s (between a 2-year and 5-year flow). Flows on the Bella Coola River above Hammer Creek (08FB011) is currently at 420 m3/s and rising (approaching a 2-year flow). Flows are forecast to reach 5-year to 10-year levels by Tuesday or Wednesday (May 16-17), with additional rises (up to 10-year to 20-year flows) possible by later in the week.
For full details see :
FWT_2023_05_15_1430_Dean_BellaCoola_upg.pdf (gov.bc.ca)
For the most up-to-date information:
Flood Warnings and Advisories - River Forecast Centre - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)