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By Corey Fischer

Lake Nearing Full Pool

May 15, 2018 | 3:36 PM

Okanagan Lake is up 48 centimetres in the last week, and is 17 centimetres below full pool.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations expects the lake to reach full capacity at 342.48 metres on Friday, and to exceed that level by the weekend.

Municipal staff are adding bladder dams, sandbags, and other measures to protect public infrastructure, including on beaches.

“We encourage residents in low-lying and waterfront areas that were affected by the rising lake levels in 2017 are encouraged to take similar precautions and use sandbags or other measures to protect structures on their property,” says an COEO rlease

North Okanagan officials says while most snow appears to be melted, 50 percent of the upper level snowpack still remains.

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“With the recent high temperatures, rapid snow melt is still potential for water levels to increase. Weather forecasting for the next three days is calling for 15mm of rain with added expected thunderstorm activity. This could cause an additional 10 mm of rain in local areas,” says an RDNO release.

“Lakes are approaching full levels, so shoreline residents and infrastructure owners need to consider possible protective measures required for their properties”, stated Alastair Crick, Protective Services Manager with the RDNO. “Regardless of the warm weather, we can’t let our guards down yet”.

by Corey Fischer

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What Matters

Housing Starts
Local housing construction declined in June, down for year so far
2h ago
Employee Safety
Employers responsible for worker safety as heat wave hits Okanagan: WorksSafeBC
19h ago
mid- to high 30s
Cooling centres opening in Vernon as heat wave hits the Okanagan
19h ago
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Weapon seized from impaired driver asleep in Lumby
21h ago
Severe Drought Conditions
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