B.C.'s Central Kootenay region issues evacuation alert as weather warnings and advisories continue

The Regional District of Central Kootenay's Emergency Operations Centre has issued an evacuation alert for the community of Six Mile, British Columbia.

It says residents aren't yet required to evacuate but is advising people to be prepared to leave the area if an evacuation order is enforced.

B.C.'s River Forecast Centre also upgraded its ranking of the East Kootenay region to a flood watch.

A rainfall warning was also issued for the Elk Valley, as many parts of northern B.C. and the Interior remain under flood advisories.

High streamflow advisories are in place for the Upper Columbia and West Kootenay regions. The waterways affected include the Elk, Kaslo, Bull, and Kootenay rivers.

The advisory comes as Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for the Elk Valley, located within the East Kootenay region near the Alberta-B.C. border.

The forecaster stated 50-80 mm of rain could fall in the area by Tuesday morning, and areas near Fernie are expected to receive the highest amount of rain. The rainfall could result in localized flooding, according to Environment Canada.

Another high streamflow advisory was issued for the South Thompson River and tributaries including the Seymour River, Eagle River, Adams River and Shuswap River.

The provincial river forecast centre said rivers could rise to levels not seen in a decade, according to its current hydrologic modelling, "indicating risks for flooding" Monday and Tuesday, especially in the East Kootenays.

"Given the uncertainty in the position of the weather pattern and heaviest rainfall," the centre said in a statement, "it is possible that adjacent areas in the West Kootenay and Upper Columbia also experience significant flows."

In response to the flood watch the centre issued Saturday for the North Thompson River, including tributaries around Barriere and Clearwater, the District of Clearwater activated its Emergency Operations Centre to Level 1.

Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell says there are concerns about the long-term forecast, which includes rain and temperatures in the low 20s and high-teens, and snowpack levels that are unseasonably high.

"If that continues and the rain continues, that...could cause us a problem if we don't see a change in that forecast," he said.

The Liard River in northeastern B.C., which includes tributaries around Fort Nelson and Highway 97 toward Watson Lake, remains a concern and is still being classified as a flood warning.