Evacuations, local state of emergency in northwest B.C., as flood risk rises

Three small communities around Terrace have been evacuated as levels of the Skeena River continue to climb.

Evacuation orders took effect last night in the communities of New Remo, Old Remo and Usk as flood watches cover parts of the Skeena and Bulkley rivers in northwestern BC, the Liard River around Fort Nelson and the Dean River on the Fraser Plateau east of Bella Coola.

The River Forecast Centre says those waterways will continue to rise, at least through today, while high streamflow advisories are posted for most other northern BC rivers as flows remain heavy due to warmer weather and considerable rain.

But the centre says the flood risk is easing in the southern Interior from the Cariboo south to the US border and flood watches posted in parts of southern BC over the weekend have been dialed back to high streamflow advisories.