Lake to hit full pool

UPDATE: 5 p.m.

A state of emergency has been declared in Lake Country.

The District of Lake Country joins Kelowna, Peachland, West Kelowna and the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area in the local state of emergency.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations announced the local state of emergency as a proactive approach that allows crews to access private properties.

ORIGINAL: 3 p.m.

Officials in Kelowna are calling for flood preparation as they expect Okanagan Lake to reach full pool on Friday – and rise above it this weekend.

Work is starting to protect public properties along the lake from potential flooding.

Sweltering heat, higher than normal snowpack levels and predicted rainfall are mixing together to elevate the risk of flooding from creeks, streams and Okanagan Lake.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations says bladder dams, gabion barriers and sandbags will be installed at a number of locations along the foreshore, on a priority basis.

Okanagan Lake rose 48.5 centimetres to 342.31 metres during the past week, 17 cm below full pool.

“With a 30 per cent chance of precipitation predicted for Wednesday night, it is likely that by Friday the lake will reach full pool at 342.48 metres and exceed this level by the weekend,” said CORD.

Work crews will try to get as many areas as possible protected before the lake rises.

Residents in low-lying areas and waterfront property owners who were affected by rising lake levels in 2017 are being urged to take precautions.

“Take similar precautions and use sandbags or other measures to protect structures on their property,” said a CORD representative.

Sandbags can be picked up at these locations, which may change through the week.

Monitor daily lake levels on Castanet, at this link.