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We're in for a little more wild spring weather

Buckle up: This wild spring weather is going to continue. Environment Canada has issued a wind and heavy rain alert for Greater Victoria and other parts of the Island and south coast.
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High winds knocked down a large tree at Jutland and Burnside Road last month. According to Environment Canada, we’re in for more of the same this week. ADRIAN LAM, TIMES COLONIST

Buckle up: This wild spring weather is going to continue.

Environment Canada has issued a wind and heavy rain alert for Greater Victoria and other parts of the Island and south coast.

Strong southeasterly winds are expected to begin Tuesday night for Vancouver Island, switching to southwest on Wednesday.

The system is expected to bring 40 to 70 millimetres of precipitation for west Vancouver Island and higher terrain of the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound and North Shore Mountains.

The unseasonably strong low pressure system will be accompanied by freezing levels of 1,100 to 1,500 metres, which means precipitation will fall as heavy snow in mountain areas.

As the cold front passes, winds will shift to strong and gusty westerlies or southwesterlies Wednesday morning, affecting western Vancouver Island, and potentially Qualicum Beach, Victoria, Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley, Environment Canada said.

The agency said there is some uncertainty about the exact track of the low pressure centre, which will affect which communities see the strongest winds.

It said warnings will be issued as the storm nears and wind speeds and total precipitation amounts become more certain.

dkloster@timescolonist.com