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Flood watch issued for Salmon, Shuswap and Eagle rivers

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Water levels on Shuswap Lake are on target to meet or exceed flooding levels similar to those experienced in Sicamous and the Shuswap in 2012 and could go as high as a peak level recorded in 1972. -File photo

A flood watch has been issued for the Shuswap, Salmon and Eagle rivers and surrounding tributaries.

British Columbia’s River Forecast Centre issued the warning at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 1.

The flood watch warning was accompanied by high streamflow advisories for the three Shuswap-area rivers and surrounding tributaries.

Flood watch warnings have also been issued for the Thompson River through Kamloops, and for the North Thompson and South Thompson rivers.

The warnings come as a result of recent hot temperatures leading to snow melt and rising river levels. Thundershowers and rain are contributing to this runoff.

“Precipitation totals since yesterday have been in the 5 to 25 milimetre range, with the highest amounts of precipitation being observed in the East Okanagan, Shuswap, Kettle and West Kootenay regions,” reports the River Forecast Centre.

The website, Shuswap Lake Watch shows the lake level on June 1 exceeding what it was at the same time in 2012, when lakefront properties and communities suffered from high water and flooding.