VANCOUVER - A local state of emergency has been lifted in West Kelowna, B.C., after a creek in the Okanagan district breached a dike, while other areas in the southern and southeastern part of the province continue to deal with flooding.
Kirsten Jones with the District of West Kelowna said Thursday residents of six homes evacuated Wednesday night were being allowed to return to their property.
She said fire and rescue services, as well as operations staff, assessed the site near McDougall Creek and found there is no threat to public safety.
But Jones said the amount of rain coming down means the situation could change.
In the meantime, the Rotary Trials Park is being closed because of flooding.
Elsewhere, heavy rains, a cool spring and record snowpacks have created the potential for serious flooding.
In Kimberley, a public meeting was held Thursday morning to discuss flooding and the ongoing evacuation alert in one subdivision.
Mayor Ron McRae said although the water began to recede Thursday, a total of 46 homes remain on alert and residents of 11 other homes have opted to leave their property.
He said the area is prone to flooding but the creek doesn't usually rise until May.
"What we're seeing now as far as water levels is not the norm. It's higher than usual."
McRae said 40 homes in the Morrison subdivision have been affected to varying degrees and the enclosed area with a creek running through it has presented challenges for several years because it is on a flood plane.
"The flood plane, under the surface, is primarily clay so you don't get absorption into the system. And no matter how much widening you do you're still going to run into issues as far as high water flows."
An evacuation alert also remains in effect in Tulameen, north of Princeton, as officials are concerned that Otter Lake is spilling onto waterfront properties, affecting cabins in the popular recreational area.
The River Forecast Centre has issued a high stream flow advisory for many waterways in the southern Interior, noting heavy rain through the Kootenay, Boundary, Okanagan and Similkameen regions will keep water levels high in area creeks and rivers until at least Friday.
