The BC River Forecast Centre has issued high streamflow advisory for much of southern B.C. because of the major storm system that is expected this weekend.

The advisory covers rivers in and around places like Kamloops, Merritt, Salmon Arm, Clearwater, and Cache Creek among others.

The River Forecast Centre says smaller river systems are most susceptible to rapid increases in water levels overnight Friday through Saturday, with peak levels forecasted on Saturday and Sunday.

“Current hydrologic modelling is indicating the potential for flows in the two-year to five-year return period level in areas,” the advisory said. “Enhanced responses from areas with recent wildfire burns is possible.”

Forecasts from Environment Canada are calling for thundershowers that may lead to localized high-intensity rainfall across the region.

“Rainfall is expected to persist through until Sunday across the region, with rainfall totals forecasted in the 15 to 40mm range, with the potential for higher amounts locally,” the advisory added.

A high streamflow advisory is issued when river levels are either rising rapidly or expected to do so, but no major flooding is expected. That said, there could be minor flooding in low-lying areas.

The weather systems has led the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to put its Emergency Operations Centre on standby so it can quickly respond to any issues that may arise.

“What we’re concerned about now is debris flows,” TNRD Chair Barbara Roden. “Not necessarily flooding, although, of course, that’s a possibility. They’re calling for up to 40 millimeters of rain. That’s four centimeters, which is about three-and-a-bit inches for the Imperial-minded out there.”

While this storm is not expected to be as intense as the Atmospheric River that hit in Nov. 2021, it created massive slides in fire-damaged areas, including Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge.

Roden says there are also concerns in the Venables Valley inside the Shetland Creek wildfire zone.

“The south road, particularly with the fire just having gone through there, the destabilization, the lack of vegetation, there’s a very real possibility of debris flows coming down from where the fire has gone through,” Roden said.