A powerful storm system is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to B.C.’s coastal regions Friday, with rainfall warnings in effect for parts of Metro Vancouver.
Environment Canada issued a yellow-level rainfall warning early Friday, with up to 80 millimetres of rain expected in higher-elevation areas of the North Shore and near southern Howe Sound.
Areas of northeast Metro Vancouver, including Coquitlam and the North Shore, can expect closer to 50 mm by the time the rain tapers off Friday evening.
The heaviest rainfall is expected throughout Friday, with conditions gradually easing overnight, Environment Canada says.
However, the weather service says, this is just the first in a series of wet and windy weather ahead, with more storm systems expected to hit the B.C. coast into next week.
The forecast calls for a chance of showers Saturday, followed by periods of rain returning Sunday night. Rain is expected into the middle of next week.
Weather conditions are already affecting ferry service along the coast, with BC Ferries issuing an Adverse Weather warning for Friday, citing high winds and wave conditions in the Strait of Georgia, affecting multiple routes.
BC Ferries lists the following routes as being potentially impacted by the storm:
．Tsawwassen – Swartz Bay
．Tsawwassen – Duke Point
．Tsawwassen – Southern Gulf Islands
．Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay
．Little River – Westview
．Westview – Blubber Bay (Texada Island)
．Port McNeill – Alert Bay – Sointula
．Buckley Bay – Denman Island West
．Denman Island East (Gravelly Bay) – Hornby Island (Shingle Spit)Campbell River – Quathiaski Cove (Quadra Island)
．Heriot Bay (Quadra Island) – Whaletown (Cortes Island)
Passengers are encouraged to check BC Ferries’ Current Conditions notice before heading to the terminal.
High Streamflow Advisory issued
The BC River Forecast Centre has also issued a High Streamflow Advisory for B.C.’s South Coast, Central Coast, and several areas on Vancouver Island as a series of atmospheric rivers move across the province.
The first storm is expected to bring rapidly rising river levels, the centre said, with the highest flows expected Friday, potentially contributing to localized flooding.
High Streamflow Advisories are issued when river levels are rising or expected to rise quickly, but no major flooding is expected.
source & photo: CityNews
