Flood warning in effect for Bonaparte River

Photo: Brendan Kergin

The River Forecast Centre has placed the Bonaparte River under a flood warning. 

The province says the river is "rising rapidly" and was at a 20-year flow as of 5:30 p.m. today (July 4).

A flood warning means the river levels have exceeded bankfull or will exceed bankfull imminently, and that flooding of areas adjacent to the rivers affected will result. 

In its online update, the forecast centre says the Bonaparte River rose on Wednesday and Thursday following heavy rain. It began to recede Friday, but as of this morning, had surged again, "likely due to the delayed response of flows in the headwaters."

The province says nearby watersheds have reached extremely high flows.

The most recent high-flow event on the Bonaparte River was on May 22.

"Based on the rate of rise, the river could reach these levels in the early morning hours on Sunday and may continue to go higher."

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