'I'm going to be in big trouble': Vancouver Island snowpack remains high, increasing flood risk
A cooler-than-average spring has delayed the snowmelt on the mountaintops behind Russell Farm Market in North Cowichan, B.C. That is a potential threat to the business.
“I’m going to be in big trouble,” says France Bournazel, owner of Russell Farm Market.
The owner of the market has experienced more than $500,000 in damages caused by two separate floods over the past two years.
”Now they’re talking about another flood,” says Bournazel.
Reports from the B.C. River Forecast Centre show that the provincial average snowpack sits at 113 per cent of normal. Vancouver Island sits at 108 per cent.
“It was surprisingly wet and cold here on the island,” says Jonathan Boyd, a hydrologist with the B.C. River Forecast Centre.
Rain at sea level often means snow on the mountains when the conditions are right.
“If we had some type of heat dome, like a heatwave in late May or early June where we get temperatures 12, 13, 14 degrees above normal for four or five days, that’s probably the greatest risk,” says Boyd.
The risk is major flooding in areas like North Cowichan.
“If another flood was to happen again, the positive thing is we’re more prepared,” says Bournazel.
After two remediations, the walls around the interior of the market are now covered with easy-to-clean metal sheeting. Electrical plugs have been moved a metre up the walls and coolers have been outfitted with flood breakers.
It's still not a scenario the business owner wants to experience again. She says another major flood could mean the end of her business.
Snow remains in the hills around the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. (CTV News)
“Unfortunately, this region is prone to flooding,” says April Diver, emergency program coordinator with the Cowichan Valley Regional District (CVRD).
Diver says that with our climate changing, the potential for more flooding is imminent and people need to be prepared.
“Know where you’re going to go and know where you’re going to meet up with your family if you can’t go back home,” says Diver.
She went on to say to have a emergency preparedness kit ready and to sign up for a warning alert system.
“It’s the best way to know that there is something coming and that they have to take action,” she says.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.