Flood warnings have been raised in British Columbia’s South Coast, after more than 200 millimetres of rain fell in some places in a 24-hour period.
The River Forecast Centre has upgraded flood watches to warnings in the Pemberton Valley, as well as Howe Sound, Sea to Sky and North Shore of Metro Vancouver.
Environment Canada meteorologist Jennifer Hay said in an interview that 24-hour rainfall reached 214 millimetres in Port Mellon, about 50 kilometres northwest of Vancouver, by Wednesday morning, while Howe Sound had received 79 millimetres and West Vancouver Island-Kennedy Lake nearly 140 millimetres.
“The system is coming across, so it’s currently along the coast (and) lots of areas are still getting rain,” she said Wednesday morning.
She said a rainfall warning over the Vancouver and Fraser Valley regions had been dropped and, although it could be reissued as another system moved in.
Slightly north, the Village of Pemberton issued an evacuation alert late Tuesday for properties on Airport Road due to high river flows and significant rainfall, citing “potential threats to health, safety, and the welfare of persons.”
It said on social media Wednesday morning that flooding had happened around One Mile Lake, including sections of trail and urged residents to stay clear of flooded areas and flowing water.
While parts of the province including Metro Vancouver were experiencing a morning lull in the storms that have been sweeping across the region since last week, the forecast centre said more rain was forecast throughout Wednesday, with weather models indicating another 100 millimetres through the Sea-to-Sky corridor, and up to 100 millimetres through west and central Vancouver Island.
It’s part of a series of atmospheric river systems that have been hitting the coast.
The River Forecast Centre said rivers in the South Coast region had been “rising rapidly,” with the Stawamus, Clowhom, and Squamish rivers and Tofino Creek all exhibiting high flow rates.
Orange rainfall warnings that were raised by Environment Canada on Monday remained in place for Howe Sound and the Sea to Sky regions.
The weather office warned residents of central B.C. that the “strong and slow-moving” system would bring damaging winds, with gusts reaching around 100 kilometres an hour in some areas, before easing Wednesday night.
It said utility outages were likely and driving may be difficult, with risk of injury due to falling debris.
The River Forecast Centre said in its warning that people should continue to stay away from river banks as the fast flow of water increases the risk of bank instability.
“Continued rises in river levels are expected into Thursday in response to additional rainfall,” the warning said.
B.C.’s Transportation Ministry urged drivers to monitor conditions and prepare for high winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding in southern coastal regions for the rest of the week.
