New evacuation alerts issued in Okanagan-Similkameen as flooding intensifies

Several new evacuation orders were issued around the CentralOkanagan and Similkameen overnight as area lakes and waterwayscontinue to rise.

Six properties in Olalla, southwest of Penticton, were evacuatedas Keremeos Creek burst its banks.

A full list of evacuations in the Okanagan-Similkameendistrict can be found here.

As well, theOkanaganIndian Bandordered evacuations for several propertieson the west side ofOkanaganLake, south of Vernon.

The orders came just hours after the Central Okanagan RegionalDistrict placed properties at the mouth of Mission Creek onevacuation alertdue to increasing creek flow, with anticipated wind gusts expected to "put pressure on fortifications in that area."

A full list of evacuation alerts near Mission Creekcan be found here.

In Summerland, a state of local emergency was declared for 13 properties around Trout Creek, east of Highway 97.

"This declaration is required because of the impact of the rising ground water on Summerland's electrical system," the district said in a statement, explaining they would be turning off electricity to the affected areas immediately.

A full list of affected properties in Summerlandcan be found here.

Gusty winds biggest threat

Officials with the City of Kelowna say gusty winds are the latest threat that could add to flooding woes in the Central Okanagan.

City spokesman Tom Wilson says winds of up to 25 kilometres per hour are forecast to continue into Wednesday.

Winds have the potential to whip up waves or cause a surge into already inundated areas beside Okanagan Lake.

Wilson says crews are working to improve flood protection at the south end of the William Bennett Bridge connecting Kelowna and West Kelowna.

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A news release from the Central Okanagan Regional District says Okanagan Lake was two centimetres higher than it was on Monday, and 10 centimetres above historic flood levels recorded in 1948.

Sandbagging continues throughout the region and the regional district says flooding of area lakes and streams will persist for some time, but it has also lifted an evacuation order for two properties on the west side of Okanagan Lake just north of Fintry.

The Thompson Nicola Regional District is also warning of possibleflooding asKamloopsLake, and the North and SouthThompson rivers creep up, threatening properties inKamloopsandalong the length of those waterways.

With files from The Canadian Press