UPDATE 12:40 p.m.: Road closures along Highway 1, 8 and 97 have all re-opened to trafffic.

All hands are on deck in Cache Creek as flooding pours onto the town’s streets.

Visuals of the flooding show high water levels in nearby rivers and streams, and inches of water flowing onto downtown streets.

Village of Cache Creek Mayor John Ranta has declared a state of local emergency.

A flood watch warning was issued Friday for Cache Creek and Merritt by the B.C. River Forecast Centre, due to a high pressure weather pattern causing seasonally hot temperatures and rapid melting of the snow packs.

As of Friday evening water in Cache Creek had breached culverts at Quartz Road and on Highway 97, causing flooding of several properties, along with sections of Highways 1 and 97.

Emergency Management BC and Environment Canada have warned of water levels in the Bonaparte River rising to one in 90 year levels before the water peaks, which is expected on May 1 or May 2.

Potential relief is near, the river centre said in it’s latest update, as temperatures ease to cooler, more seasonally typical temperatures Saturday and Sunday.

In the meantime, a sandbagging event is happening at the Cache Creek Coverall throughout the day.

Northern regions also preparing for floods

Quesnel residents are keeping a close eye in the Nazko River, as roads getting washed out could impact travelling within the rural region.

The Cariboo Regional District activated its Emergency Operation Centre Thursday, with a level 2 preparedness for possibly evacuations if water levels continue to increase.

Bridge on private property that crosses the Nazko River. (Quesnel Observer)

Washouts impact Interior highways

A number of highway closures caused delays for commuters across the B.C. Interior Saturday morning.

Highway 1 west of Savona, Highway 97 northbound at the junction with Highway 1 and Highway 8 just 24 kilometres west of Merritt were all closed.

DriveBC indicates that as of 12:40 p.m., all stretches of roadway have been re-opened.

@ashwadhwani

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca

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