“We can talk about an atmospheric river, because there’s two systems back to back,” Steve Boily said as British Columbia braced for heavy rainfall and flooding risks.
Environment Canada issued orange-level rainfall warnings for the Sea to Sky area, Howe Sound, and west and inland Vancouver Island as a heavy frontal system approaches the region.
The severe weather system is projected to bring between 150 millimetres and 200 millimetres of rain from Tuesday morning through overnight Wednesday, with certain areas potentially receiving up to 250 millimetres. According to forecasters, the heaviest precipitation will ease by Wednesday morning, but moderate rainfall is expected to persist until Thursday morning.
Global BC meteorologist Mark Madryga noted that this incoming deluge follows several low-pressure systems that have already delivered substantial precipitation to parts of the coast over recent days. A series of Pacific storms is moving through the B.C. coast this week, bringing strong, gusty winds alongside prolonged heavy rainfall. Madryga explained that total rainfall predicted from Monday to Friday will be heavy as further moisture arrives.
Severe weather causes flooding risks and landslides
An orange-level warning indicates that severe weather is likely to cause widespread damage and disruption. Localized flooding is expected, prompting authorities to urge drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution. Residents are also advised to stay away from riverbanks and streams, while vulnerable areas face potential landslides.
The City of Vancouver began preparing for the storms by opening additional shelter spaces on Monday and Tuesday, according to The Globe and Mail. Forecasters have warned the public never to cross flooded roads or bridges.
With a very mild flow originating from the subtropics, freezing levels are changing across the region. The freezing level rose to 2,000 metres on the South Coast on Monday afternoon and is expected to reach nearly 3,000 metres by Tuesday afternoon. In response to the rising waters and melting snow potential, the BC River Forecast Centre issued a high streamflow advisory for the South and Central Coasts.
Did You Know? Canada is currently experiencing a weather pattern known as an “omega block,” characterized by a high-pressure ridge sandwiched between two low-pressure troughs, which will push temperatures in Alberta and Saskatchewan seven to 10 degrees above seasonal norms over a 10-day period, according to meteorologist Rhythm Reet of the Weather Network.
BC Hydro restores most power after windstorm
The new storms follow a destructive weekend windstorm that left nearly 415,000 BC Hydro customers without power across the province. BC Hydro reported that more than 99 per cent of those outages had been repaired by Monday morning, leaving approximately 6,000 customers still without service.
The utility stated that the majority of remaining outages are concentrated in the Central Interior, where extensive damage north and east of Prince George included roughly 200 spans of downed wire and numerous broken poles.
Residents in Prince George faced extensive property damage during the weekend winds. Olivia Power described a tree crashing onto her home in the North Nechako neighbourhood, telling CBC that the house felt like it was shaking during the storm.
BC Hydro spokesperson Bob Gammer stated that hundreds of workers, including auxiliary crews and contractors, have been deployed to coordinate repairs across the province. Utility officials warned that power may not be restored until late Tuesday for some customers in hard-hit or remote areas.
What areas face rainfall warnings and power outages
What areas are under orange-level rainfall warnings?
Environment Canada issued orange-level warnings for the Sea to Sky area, Howe Sound, and west and inland Vancouver Island. These regions could receive between 150 millimetres and 200 millimetres of rain, with some spots seeing up to 250 millimetres.
How much power has BC Hydro restored following the weekend storms?
BC Hydro reported that more than 99 per cent of the nearly 415,000 customer outages recorded since Friday had been repaired by Monday morning. Around 6,000 customers remained without service as of Monday, primarily in the Central Interior due to heavily damaged electrical equipment.
What weather conditions are driving the current rainfall event?
Meteorologists attribute the severe weather to a heavy frontal system and an atmospheric river bringing subtropical moisture from the Pacific. A very mild flow from the subtropics is pushing freezing levels to nearly 3,000 metres by Tuesday afternoon.
How are local communities in your area preparing for the forecasted atmospheric river and rising water levels?
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