High winds add to flooding fears as storm approaches southern Interior
VANCOUVER — High water levels could persist for several weeks in British Columbia’s flood-weary southern Interior, officials warn.
Residents also braced for another battering, as Environment Canada issued special weather statements for parts of Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver and most of the southern Interior, including the Okanagan, advising that strong winds are due to hit late Tuesday and continue into Wednesday.
Weather warnings to expect gusty winds up to 90 kilometres per hour were also issued for Greater Victoria, east Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
There’s concern that high winds could whip up waves on lakes that are already at flood stage, especially Okanagan Lake where officials have said water has topped a depth of 342.91 metres, surpassing the levels during the flooding of 1990.