Study suggests climate change made B.C. floods at least twice as likely

Research from Environment Canada says the catastrophic floods that swamped much of southern British Columbia last fall were at least twice as likely because of climate change.

The study concludes that the likelihood of similar events in the future will only increase as global warming continues to upend normal weather patterns.

Almost 15,000 people were forced from their homes at the peak of the November floods.

Roads and bridges, including sections of the Coquihalla Highway, were washed away and farms were flooded in up to two metres of water.

Lead author Nathan Gillett says his team came to the conclusion by using climate models to compare B.C.’s weather with greenhouse gases and without.

He says the conclusions point to the need to rebuild roads and buildings that are able to withstand more severe weather than in the past.