Heavy rain warnings escalate as new storms threaten B.C. coast
Environment Canada warns some areas could see over 250 millimetres of rain, with flooding and landslides likely.
VANCOUVER · Environment Canada has escalated rainfall warnings for parts of southwest British Columbia, forecasting a deluge of up to 250 millimetres in some areas as a new series of storms moves in. Orange-level warnings are in effect for west and central Vancouver Island, Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky regions, indicating severe weather likely to cause widespread damage and disruption. The agency said a "very robust frontal system" will make landfall on Vancouver Island early Tuesday morning and persist until Wednesday morning. Localized flooding is likely and residents are urged to stay away from riverbanks and streams. "This rainfall event comes on the heels of several low pressure systems that have moved through the region in recent days, already bringing substantial amounts of precipitation to parts of the coast," Environment Canada said in a weather statement. The heaviest rain is expected Tuesday and Wednesday, with moderate precipitation continuing into Thursday. Global BC meteorologist Mark Madryga said the storms will bring a prolonged period of heavy rainfall along with strong, gusty winds at times.
The BC River Forecast Centre has issued a high streamflow advisory, or flood watch, for much of the southwest coast. The watch covers Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky region, parts of Metro Vancouver, most of Vancouver Island, the Central Coast and the northern Fraser Valley. Residents are being asked to stay away from fast-moving water and to never cross flooded roads or bridges. Landslides could also occur in vulnerable areas.
The wild weather has already been linked to fatalities. Police noted heavy rain conditions when they announced that a 78-year-old woman died in hospital on Saturday after being hit by a car in Vancouver the day before. On Saturday in Surrey, a tree fell on two vehicles, killing one of the drivers. A canoeist has been missing in stormy waters off northern Vancouver Island since Friday. The Ma’amtagila Nation says the vessel was found capsized, and the tribe has pleaded for federal search assistance as weather worsens. Environment Canada has issued about a dozen wind and rain warnings for the southern and central coasts. More than 160 millimetres of rain is forecast for Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky areas, while Metro Vancouver could get more than 120 millimetres near the mountains. With a mild flow from the subtropics, the freezing level will rise to 2,000 metres on the South Coast on Monday afternoon and to almost 3,000 metres on Tuesday afternoon.
Communities are preparing for the incoming storms. The City of Vancouver opened additional shelter spaces on Monday and Tuesday. Low-pressure systems over the weekend drenched southwest B.C., triggering an evacuation order for about 30 properties in the village of Zeballos on northwest Vancouver Island. Winds reached 116 kilometres an hour on Herbert Island off northern Vancouver Island on Sunday, with Victoria’s airport recording 96 kilometres an hour. The weekend storms temporarily cut power to about 415,000 BC Hydro customers.
With files from Global News and The Globe and Mail