A flood warning has been issued for B.C.'s Central and Southern Peace Region as persistent rainfall causes the area's rivers to rise steadily.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre upgraded the region from a "flood watch" to a "flood warning" Saturday afternoon, after 36 hours of torrential rain pummelled the area in northeastern B.C.
A flood warning is also in effect for the Upper Fraser River at Prince George, where showers are expected again on Sunday.
Saturday's downpour caused extensive damage to parts of Peace Region, an area flanked by the Rocky Mountain foothills to the west and the Alberta plains to the east.
Several major routes in the area were washed out and eventually closed, the B.C. Transportation Ministry confirmed Saturday.
Travellers on Highway 52, between Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge, were forced to take a detour.
Another roadway, Highway 16, about 77 kilometres east of Prince George, was closed in both directions due to rain.
Torrents of water have overwhelmed gutters and highway crews alike, said Transportation Ministry regional director Mike Lorimer.
"The streamflows were just too high for the culvert to handle," he said on Saturday.
"The culvert's still working, it's passing all the water, but there's just too much flow and that extra water backed up and it's gone over the road."
Though the intensity of the rainfall has decreased, Environment Canada predicts the showers will continue on Sunday.
The agency also expects most Peace Region water levels to peak before the weekend is through. B.C.'s Moberly River, the only exception, will remain elevated and peak early next week.
Evacuation alert issued
Meanwhile, residents in Peace River have additional worries.
The area is under an evacuation alert, meaning locals may need to leave their homes if the heavy rainfall currently soaking the region prompts flooding.
Public Safety Minister Shirley Bond said the province's emergency program is on high alert and ready to help if floods hit the area.
Bond added that officials have already been looking at venues in nearby towns that could host families that might be displaced by flooding.
The warnings come two weeks after heavy roads swamped the district, causing millions of dollars in damage and washing out roads.
The province has offered disaster relief funding to repair ruined bridges, crumbled roadbeds and damaged homes and businesses that were damaged by the area's deluge in late June.
It's been a COLD, WET Summer for us here...