Atmospheric river expected on B.C. south coast, main brunt arriving Sunday

Environment and Climate Change Canada says an atmospheric river will reach B.C.'s south coast with the main brunt due Sunday and 75–125 mm of rain expected; provincial flood watches and streamflow advisories are in effect.

Environment and Climate Change Canada says an atmospheric river will move toward British Columbia's south coast this weekend. The agency reported the main brunt is expected in the Metro Vancouver region on Sunday, with periods of heavy rain and totals of 75 to 125 mm before easing Monday night. An earlier system already brought heavy rain to the north coast. The provincial ministry has issued watches and advisories for multiple coastal and island areas. Notices and advisories: - Environment and Climate Change Canada expects the main portion of the system in Metro Vancouver on Sunday, with higher precipitation possible over the North Shore Mountains. - The weather office reported up to 100 mm of rain along the north coast from a prior system and said another front will bring more heavy rain and possible utility outages. - B.C.'s Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship issued a flood watch for north and west Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound and the North Shore Mountains, and noted warmer temperatures and rain-on-snow melt may increase runoff. - High streamflow advisories are in effect for parts of Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, the Lower Fraser and outer coastal areas; the ministry listed possible impacts such as road washouts, localized flooding, overbank flow and landslides and reported that people were advised to avoid riverbanks and check road conditions. Summary: Officials say the main system is expected Sunday and conditions are forecast to ease by Monday night. Flood watches and streamflow advisories are active across several coastal and island regions, and authorities have signaled a heightened flood hazard while updates continue to be provided by federal and provincial agencies.