The River Forecast Centre has issued a flood warning for the Elk River near Fernie, while other waterways in the East Kootenay have been placed on a flood watch.
Forecast Centre officials say a number of rivers in the area are at or approaching two-year return period flows.
This includes the Elk River, Bull River near Wardner and the Kootenay River at Fort Steele.
They say with heavy rain expected over the next few days, flows in the five-year to 10-year return period range are likely.
Flows could even reach the 20-year range or higher.
A flood watch was issued last night for the East Kootenay region.
MORE: Flood watch issued in East Kootenay (June 12, 2022)
Forecasts are calling for approximately 50 to 80 mm of rain in the Elk Valley with Fernie getting the worst of it.
For the rest of the East Kootenay, 30 to 50 mm is expected and 20 to 40 mm in the Columbia Valley.
A rainfall warning has been issued by Environment Canada.
MORE: Heavy precipitation batters B.C. interior and southern Alberta (June 13, 2022)
Another self-fill sandbag station has been set up in Sparwood on Engelmann Spruce Drive past the Mainroad Yard and Fire Hall #1.
Sandbag stations are also available in Fernie, Hosmer, Cranbrook and Fairmont Hot Springs.
MORE: More sandbag stations set up for spring melt (June 1, 2022)
The Regional District of East Kootenay is urging residents to sign up for the Regional Evacuation Notification System.
“Once people are signed up, they will be directly alerted in the event of evacuation orders or alerts affecting their registered property,” says Loree Duczek, RDEK information officer.
“It’s a free system, is available for municipalities, First Nations and rural areas of the RDEK and is easy to sign up for.”
You can report any flooding to the 24-hour East Kootenay emergency line at 250-489-9677.
