BC's South Coast Is Under A Flood Watch & An 'Atmospheric River' Is Bringing Lots Of Rain
Some areas could get up to 400 millimetres of rain.
A person holds an umbrella in the rain.
A flood watch has been issued for parts of B.C. ahead of a series of storms set to deliver high rainfall amounts to the province.
The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship has issued a flood watch for B.C.'s South Coast ahead of an atmospheric river that's set to wallop the region.
While meteorologists say the storms won't be anything like the record rainfall seen when an atmospheric river hit B.C. in 2021, some parts of the province are expected to be drenched in hundreds of millimetres of rain.
Why you should care: The BC River Forest Centre issued the flood watch for the South Coast on January 25 as an atmospheric river (a potent band of tropical moisture) targets the province.
According to the RFC, a flood watch means that river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull, and that flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur.
Areas under the flood watch include Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, Sea-to-Sky and North Shore Mountains, the Fraser Valley, including tributaries from Port Coquitlam to Harrison, and all of Vancouver Island.
A High Streamflow Advisory, which is issued when river levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly, has also been issued for Lower Fraser tributaries, including areas around Pemberton and Lillooet River tributaries, Fraser Valley East (tributaries around Abbotsford, Hope), and Fraser Canyon.
The advisory warns that a series of potent storms is set to impact coastal British Columbia this weekend and next week, with things starting on Friday, another storm on Saturday-Sunday, and a final storm on Monday.
What they’re saying: According to the warning, the heaviest rainfall is currently forecast over West Vancouver Island and the Coast Mountains, where total rainfall between Saturday and Wednesday could reach 200-300 millimetres, with the potential for some local areas to receive up to 400 millimetres.
"Areas around Howe Sound, Sunshine Coast, other areas of Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver, Sea-to-Sky, and Fraser Valley are forecast to receive 70 to 250 mm of precipitation," says the RFC.
Snowmelt due to warming temperatures is also expected to provide additional runoff to rivers, it says.
B.C.'s Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is urging people to prepare for the storms, advising residents of the possibility of flooding in low-lying areas, to keep away from river edges and shorelines, and warning people against attempting to drive or walk through flood water.
ICYMI: According to a report from The Weather Network earlier this week, the atmospheric river taking aim at B.C. is known as a Pineapple Express.
For those who don't know, a Pineapple Express is one of the most famous kinds of atmospheric rivers due to its strong impact, as it's known to be associated with intense rainfall, mudslides, and flooding.
The conditions are expected to continue into next week. Information on how to prepare for flooding can be found on the B.C. government's website.
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.