State of local emergency declared as the Skeena River bursts its banks

The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine has declared a state of local emergency as the Skeena River bursts its banks after days of heavy rain and rapid snowmelt.

The communities of Old Remo and New Remo, southwest of Terrace, have been ordered evacuated, high water threatens about 100 properties and some roads have been washed out, while evacuation alerts are posted for other nearby areas.

Flood warnings are in effect for several northwestern BC rivers, including sections of the Skeena, Stikine and Tuya and the River Forecast Centre has also issued flood watches and high streamflow advisories for many other BC waterways.

The centre say the risk of flooding in the northwest will remain, at least into the weekend, but forecasters say rising waterways in southern and eastern BC should not reach flood stage unless rapid snowmelt caused by the latest hot spell is followed by heavy rain.