Ice continues to break up and melt in the Similkameen and Tulameen rivers as warmer temperatures continue.
It’s occurring slowly and not causing significant jamming at this present moment, said Sean Vaisler, manager of Emergency Services for the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen on Jan. 13.
Currently, the ice jams are not causing any flooding. The RDOS Emergency Operations Centre monitors both the Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers but there are no significant updates, meaning that the situation is not degrading for the week of Jan. 10 to 14.
“We have not received reports that ice flows or chunks of ice are moving downstream that are a cause of concern at the present moment for homeowners adjacent to the Similkameen and Tulameen rivers,” said Vaisler.
Several properties in rural Keremeos at 3455 and 3491 Highway 3 (Riverside Estates) remain on evacuation alert.
Sand and sandbags are available for residents to protect their property from potential flooding. Additional sandbag locations were put in place on Wednesday, Jan. 12 at 3491 Highway 3 in Electoral Area “G” (Rural Keremeos) and 13 km east of Princeton in Area “H” (Rural Princeton).
The ice jams have been choking the rivers since late December 2021.
READ MORE: Ice jams cause evacuation alerts
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