Wednesday June 13, 2012  - 3:08pm

A synopsis from the BC River Forecast Centre

Snow melt rates have been elevated over the past 5 days throughout the region. River levels have been responding to this, as well as showers that have affected the area.

The main concern at this point is that we are currently in the peak of the snow melt season (perhaps for another 7-10 days) where the rivers are reaching their seasonal peaks from the snow melt (ie the rising limb of the spring freshet hydrograph). At the end of this period, flows from snow melt alone should begin subsiding. In the meantime, river levels are very high (near 2-year flow levels on the Bulkley-Smithers and Skeena-Usk), and have little extra capacity to convey rapid snowmelt or heavy rainfall. As a result the Skeena is expected to remain elevated over the next 1-2 weeks. There is currently a wetter weather period forecast starting this weekend, and potentially extending through next week (heaviest rain expected over the weekend). Rainfall amounts may be in the 20-30 mm range pushing in from the Coast Mountains, and if this amount of rain does fall, it is may lead to flood conditions early next week in the Skeena and Bulkley. There appears to be more room in the Nass River at this point, and there is less concern over the Nass at this point.

There is currently uncertainty about how much rain may fall with this event, and the forecast will need to be adjusted accordingly.