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Penticton  

Snow melt accelerating

UPDATE 12:00 p.m.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations confirmed Monday that Okanagan Lake rose three centimetres overnight. That puts the lake level at 342.86 metres above sea level, just one centimetre shy of 1990 flood peak.

It is expected the lake will rise another 14 centimetres before peaking at 343 metres.


ORIGINAL 10 a.m.

Scorching hot temperatures are bringing high elevation snowmelt into Okanagan Lake at an accelerated pace.

Okanagan Lake rose more than 3 cm overnight, according to City of Penticton CAO Peter Weeber, where crews are sandbagging areas at risk of wave action.

Weeber said a machine capable of producing 1,600 sandbags an hour was delivered Sunday night and is now being supported by 20 BC Wildfire staff, who will help build a sandbag wall in the low lying area between the SS Sicamous and Okanagan River dam.   

An Environment Canada special weather statement remains in effect, warning of unseasonably warm temperatures on Monday, followed by a cool down and risk of thunderstorms on Tuesday night.



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