UPDATED BELOWThe weather changed unexpectedly and dramatically as the longest day of the year, the official beginning of summer and National Aboriginal Day, brought scorching heat.
Terrace and area is now under a flood watch and some areas are now experiencing localized flooding.
The National Aboriginal Day celebrations at George Little Park in Terrace endured stiffling heat all morning and into the early afternoon. The danger of heat stroke was clearly apparent. Later in the day the weather shifted again to windy cooler conditions.
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UPDATE AS OF 11:00 AM JUNE 24, 2012With river levels rising, and registering 11.042m at the Usk monitoring station some residents are reporting water creeping up onto their properties. Today would be a good day to review/create your own emergency plan... pack some clothing, ...medications, important documents and comfort items for you and your family members.
Reach out to family and friends for help and support - make arrangements to stay with someone (in the event you need to) for a minimum of 3 days but even better up to a week or more. Make alternate arrangements for your pets to stay somewhere and livestock to be transported to higher ground should you choose to self evacuate or experience an Evacuation Order.
Emergency Social Services (ESS) is a volunteer based organization that is activated by the Emergency Program Coordinator. ESS can facilitate assisting families and individuals who haven't had time or resources to prepare for an emergency; in the case of flooding - generally only if they live in an area under an Evacuation Order. So, take the time to prepare and if you have done so - why not reach out and help a neighbour in need.
If you live in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, visit the website for more information: www.rdks.bc.ca or during business hours call 250-615-6100 in the case of after hours (ie:sand/sand bags) 1-800-360-9189The current information being released by the local governments as of early afternoon Saturday, June 23 is;
The River Forecast Centre has upgraded the Skeena River/Bulkley River to a Flood Watch stage.A Flood Watch means that river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull. Flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur.
The Skeena River water levels have risen approximately 1 metre since Thursday and are expected to rise a further 1 metre by Monday or Tuesday according to the River Forecast Centre advisory from 12:40 p.m. today.
The water level on the Skeena was measured at 10.075 metres at the Usk Station as of 11:00 a.m. Low-lying areas in the Regional District and the far south end of Skeena Street in Terrace could potentially experience some flooding by early next week if the rising water continues at this pace. This image is a graph the Skeena River levels as of Sunday morning at the area above the confluence of the Babine River. It demonstrates a slowing of the rising waters.
This tight time frame graph shows how the Skeena River at Usk has jumped more than 2 meters in one day and the volume has increased by 1500 cubic meters per sec.
