Another flood watch is in effect for parts of Vancouver Island, including areas still mopping up from flooding that forced hundreds to flee their homes last week.

Allan Chapman, head of the B.C. River Forecast Centre, said more flooding could occur by Wednesday night or Thursday morning in the Cowichan Valley area.

“We don’t know yet just how high but we see potential to get back up to flood level by late Wednesday,” Chapman said.

“We continue to have high water on the Cowichan River because of the last two storms in nine days.”

The Courtenay-Comox area is also at risk of more flooding.

Wednesday will bring the third storm to the central Island. The warm and wet storm system will combine with snow melt and other factors to produce widespread high river levels, according to the Environment Ministry.

High river levels in the west and central areas of the Island are expected by Wednesday, while rivers in the Parksville to Cowichan area are predicted to begin rising Wednesday morning, with high levels anticipated by Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

Duncan Mayor Phil Kent said the snow melt is the biggest concern.

Following cool and wet weather over the past two weeks, deep snowpacks have accumulated across Vancouver Island mountains. Rains over the last two weeks have also left lake levels high and soils saturated.

Many Cowichan Valley residents are still mopping up from the last flood and remain without permanent shelter.

“We’re just getting pummelled with rain on Vancouver Island and the south coast,” Chapman said.

“We don’t see an end to the wet weather yet.”

More rain is predicted for the weekend.

Duncan’s mayor expects residents in the region will be informed by Wednesday morning about what to do in the event of more flooding. He met with the Emergency Operations Centre early Tuesday evening, with plans to hold a community meeting afterward.

“It’s Mother Nature,” Kent said. “We just have to deal with what we’re faced with.”

Volunteers who’ve been working flat out since Friday’s devastating storm are burned out.

“Putting fresh people in their place” is the challenge now, Kent said.

The Provincial Emergency Program is already preparing its response. Local governments were briefed in a conference call Tuesday.

The Ministry of the Environment issued a rainfall warning Tuesday for west Vancouver Island, with a forecast of more than 100 millimetres from early Wednesday through to Thursday.

The east Island is expected to receive only moderate rain — up to 60 millimetres.

ceharnett@tc.canwest.com