People living along B.C.’s south coast can expect even more rain than usual this week, as forecasters warn of “an incredible series of storms” crossing the region.
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Mainland, predicting an “extraordinary” rain event lasting until Thursday morning.
The weather service says that the first two storms to hit the region will push rainfall levels well above the criteria for an official warning. The east coast of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver and the western Fraser Valley are expected to get between 25 and 100 millimetres of rain by Tuesday morning.
“And that is just the beginning…” the warning reads.
The west coast of Vancouver Island could be hit even harder, with rainfall totals of 100-200 mm by Tuesday.
Forecasters expect to keep extending the rainfall warning every 24 hours into the middle of the week. The downpour could lead the flash floods in some areas and water pooling on roads. Melting snow in some areas will raise the levels of drainage basins, creeks and rivers even higher.
A wind warning is also in effect for Vancouver Island and the southern Gulf Islands, where Environment Canada is predicting southerly winds with speeds of 70 kilometres per hour and gusts of up to 90 km/h Monday afternoon.
Further north, wind speeds of 90 km/h gusting to 110 km/h are expected for Haida Gwaii and the central coast.
