The City of Quesnel continues to keep a close eye on an ice jam on the Quesnel River.
“With the warmer temperatures, we’ve got some opening up of the river and it’s starting to flow a little bit on the bottom section around the Johnston loop through to the mouth of the Fraser,” said director of emergency services Ron Richert.
“However, we still have quite a bit of ice buildup further upstream.”
The ice buildup along the Quesnel River came after several weeks of bitterly cold temperatures resulting in the closure of the Johnston Bridge Loop.
Also closed is the Riverfront Trail from Ceal Tingley Park to the Quesnel River Bridge that was flooded and is now covered in ice.
Read More: UPDATE: Johnston Bridge Loop closed due to flooding
Monitoring with Emergency Management BC (EMBC) remains ongoing.
“With warm weather it can go either way,” Richert noted.
“We can get a good flow, or if things loosen up and come down, they can start piling up again, so that’s the reasoning for the monitoring and assessing of it on a daily basis.”
Those looking for a fun outdoor activity are reminded to obey all signage and not proceed past the barricades.
Daytime temperatures are anticipated to dip below zero next week, meaning it could be some time before the situation resolves itself.
“The long-range forecast we’re still taking a look at that and trying to determine what’s going to happen in February,” Richert added.
He was able to get an aerial view of the ice buildup last Sunday with EMBC that also flew over Baker Creek.
It is believed there was an ice jam on the Quesnel River back in 2005, although not to the degree currently being experienced.
Richert said they have some historical data from the 60s and 70s and are trying to assemble some historical data with temperatures and more to build a database for it if it happens again.
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