Rain eases briefly in B.C. before next storm arrives

VANCOUVER · Southern British Columbia could see a brief break Wednesday from days of heavy rain before another storm arrives. Environment Canada meteorologist Michael Gismondi said a possible lull is expected this morning before the rain re-intensifies later. He said the wet conditions are part of a series of atmospheric river systems battering the coast and will persist into the weekend. Rainfall warnings remain in effect for Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky regions, where more than 160 millimetres of rain is forecast. Similar warnings are posted for western and inland Vancouver Island, where totals could exceed 250 millimetres.

Environment Canada also warned central B.C. residents about a strong and slow-moving system bringing damaging winds. Gusts could reach around 100 kilometres an hour in some areas before easing tonight. The weather office said utility outages are likely and driving may be difficult due to the risk of injury from falling debris. A special weather statement covering most of the coast and Vancouver Island warns of a strong and potent series of storms approaching the region. The B.C. Transportation Ministry urged drivers to monitor conditions and prepare for high winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding in southern coastal areas for the rest of the week.

Flood watches continue to cover much of Vancouver Island and the South Coast. On Tuesday, the provincial River Forecast Centre issued high streamflow advisories for southern Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley. The severe weather follows earlier storms that have caused significant disruption. Your Space Hamilton reported on Monday that Environment Canada warned some areas could see over 250 millimetres of rain, with flooding and landslides likely. A major storm on November 8 left thousands without power, and high winds led to ferry cancellations and outages on Vancouver Island on November 7.

With files from The Canadian Press, Global News and Toronto Star