Weather warnings are blanketing most of Vancouver Island on Tuesday, including two “orange alert” rainfall warnings where totals could reach 250 millimetres over the next two days.
An orange level rainfall warning is in effect for West and Inland Vancouver Island, where Environment Canada is predicting 150 to 200 millimetres of rain to fall from Tuesday morning through Thursday morning – with some areas potentially seeing more than 250 millimetres locally.
The rain is expected to ease Wednesday afternoon but continue through Thursday before another weather system arrives on Vancouver Island on Friday, according to Environment Canada.
“Localized flooding is likely. Some roads may become impassable. Visibility will likely be suddenly reduced at times,” said the weather office. “Landslides may occur in vulnerable areas such as steep slopes, deforested areas or recent burn scars.”
●More yellow weather alerts for Vancouver Island
Meanwhile, in East Vancouver Island, a yellow alert rainfall warning and a wind warning are in effect, from Nanoose Bay to Campbell River.
Here, 50 to 100 millimetres of rain is expected to fall from Tuesday morning through Wednesday night, while southeast wind gusts of 70 km/h to 90 km/h are expected to blow through from Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning.
In North Vancouver Island, yellow alerts for rain and wind are also in effect Tuesday.
Some 100 milimetres of rain is expected to fall Tuesday, with the heaviest rain developing in the afternoon and continuing until Wednesday morning – particularly in the areas of Port Alice, Woss and Quatsino.
Southeasterly wind gusts of 90 km/h to 110 km/h are also expected to develop late Tuesday afternoon and continue through the late evening for the North Island.
Last year, Environment Canada introduced a new colour-coded weather alert system, with yellow being the least severe, followed by orange and red alerts.
A yellow alert is described as the most common type of weather warning with impacts “likely moderate, localized, and/or short term,” according to the federal government.
An orange alert is described as severe damage that is likely to cause “significant damage” or disruption and pose a greater risk of injury. “Impacts can be major, widespread, and/or may last a few days,” reads the Environment Canada website.
Red alerts will be rare, and will only be issued when “very dangerous and possibly life-threatening weather will cause extreme damage and disruption.”
As of Monday afternoon, flood watches were in effect for almost all areas of Vancouver Island – including North, West, Central and East Vancouver Island, according to the BC River Forecast Centre.
A flood watch means river levels are rising and could exceed their riverbanks. It is more severe than a high streamflow advisory, but lower than a flood warning.
“Heavy rain and high streamflow bring increased risk for unstable banks, river erosion, submerged roads, swift water hazards, flooding and landslides,” said the forecast centre. “Stay clear of the banks of swift-running rivers and never drive across flooded roads, bridges or river crossings.”
It also asked for people to keep storm drains clear of leaves and other debris to help reduce flooding.
source&photo: CHEK News
