UPDATE: 12:45 p.m. Highway 1 and Highway 97 have both reopened around Cache Creek and Spences Bridge, according to Drive BC.
Original story: As temperatures warm and the unusually high snow pack melts, communities across the province are bracing for, and experiencing floods.
Washouts and road closures are blocking travel plans and wrecking havoc for local first responders as high water levels push rivers above their banks.
Highway 1 and Highway 97is closed in both directions at Spences Bridge, because of a wash out in Cache Creek, and at Savona at Deadman Vidette Road, also due to a wash out.
Highway 97 is closed in both directions at the junction with Highway 99, north of Cache Creek, also due to a wash out, and again at the junction of Highway 1 at Cache Creek because of a wash out.
Read more: Cache Creek braces for 3rd major flood in 4 years to hit village
Videos posted on Facebook show waters flowing through the community, which is bracing for a one-in-90-year flooding event.
Highway 8 is also closed in both directions 24 kilometres west of Merritt due to a washout, and Highway 3A between Keremeos and Highway 97 is closed due to a mud slide 18.5 km east of Keremeos.
Detours are available via Highway 5 (the Coquihalla) through Hope northbound, or Highway 24, then Highway 5 through 100 Mile House southbound.
Highway 99, through Lillooet, is reduced to single lane alternating traffic 15 km north of the community due to a mudslide.
In the Cariboo, the Cariboo Regional District’s Emergency Operations Centre has been activated, providing sandbags to residents as needed.
Read more: CRD opens emergency operations centre in response to flooding issues
High stream flows and flooding are expected to continue, particularly in the the Nazko River, West Road River, Bonaparte River and tributary rivers around Williams Lake, Quesnel and surrounding areas.
Read more: Residents in Nazko on high alert for potential flooding incidents
If you are experiencing flooding issues, the CRD urges you to contact their public information line at 1-866-759-4977 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Do you have flooding in your area?
Email tara.sprickerhoff@wltribune.com with your pictures or flood reports.
@Tspricker
tara.sprickerhoff@wltribune.com
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