With heavy rains in the forecast, officials in Whistler and Pemberton are closely monitoring river levels, although no flood warning has been issued.
Water levels are “abnormally high” for Crabapple Creek Tuesday, Dec. 9, said RMOW spokesperson Michele Comeau, with some minor blockages cleared from the Crabapple Drive area by municipal staff. Water levels are also high in The River of Golden Dreams and Fitzsimmons Creek, but typical for this type of wet weather, Comeau said.
With up to 20 millimetres of rain forecast for the resort overnight, the municipal roads crew has identified a list of critical inspection points for monitoring this evening.
In Pemberton, heavy river flow is expected, and residents are asked to avoid venturing too close to rivers if possible.
“Right now my biggest concern is more along the lines of spot flooding than it is for general flooding,” said Mayor Mike Richman. “The good news is a lot of the ice we had on our creeks, canals and rivers a week ago is pretty much flushed through, because that could have posed a big (flood) risk.”
Richman urged the public to be aware of overflowing storm drains and roof gutters.
Heavy rains are forecast through Wednesday night.
“In the Pemberton Valley area we’re looking pretty good, there’s lots of capacity in the rivers there so they should be able to take what’s coming tonight and tomorrow,” said SLRD emergency programs manager Ryan Wainwright.
