The City of Dawson Creek in northeastern B.C. has extended its local state of emergency as it braces for a potential water shortage this winter.

The city says it is still able to pump water from the Kiskatinaw River and maintain levels in its storage reservoirs, but chief administrative officer Kevin Henderson warns an extended cold snap — with windchills plunging to -40 C — could soon freeze river flows entirely.

"If this cold weather continues like we're seeing today, it's very possible that the river could freeze off and flows all but stop within, I would say, weeks to a month," Henderson said.

The state of emergency was first declared in October as the city works to secure provincial permits for a temporary water supply line from the Peace River, about 50 kilometres away.

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