B.C.’s South Coast residents are bracing for a storm to sweep onshore on Christmas Day.
Rainfall warnings have been issued for Metro Vancouver and Howe Sound with rain expected to start around midday on Dec. 25.
During the afternoon of Christmas Day, the weather system will bring heavy rain. Over higher terrain, above 300 metres in elevation, a brief period of wet snow may result in slippery conditions, Environment Canada said.
Wind warnings have also been issued for these areas, including the Sunshine Coast and eastern Vancouver Island.
Global BC meteorologist Mark Madryga said very strong winds and rain are expected to hit the region.
In Metro Vancouver, southeast winds will likely gust to 80 km/h, especially near the Strait of Georgia, by late morning and in the afternoon and evening, Madryga added.
Early on Boxing Day, a low-pressure system will approach southern Vancouver Island but Madryga said there is still some uncertainty about the path.
Current guidance suggests the storm will track through the Juan de Fuca Strait, Madryga added, and as a result, the strongest winds and heavy precipitation will likely be confined to the B.C. South Coast.
The low-pressure centre that brought strong winds to the South Coast Monday night has moved northward to the Central Coast on Tuesday morning and will move into northern B.C. Tuesday afternoon.
Winds will steadily ease through the morning.
Below is a look at the peak wind gusts as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday.
BC Ferries is also warning about cancellations due to the expected storm with some more cancellations possible.
All sailings between Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Duke Point (Nanaimo) are cancelled for Dec. 25.
10:15 am departing Tsawwassen
12:45 pm departing Duke Point
3:15 pm departing Tsawwassen
5:45 pm departing Duke Point
The following sailings between Tsawwassen (Vancouver) and Swartz Bay (Victoria) are cancelled for Dec. 25.
Sailing Cancellations, Wednesday, December 25:
11:00 am departing Tsawwassen
11:00 am departing Swartz Bay
1:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
1:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
3:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
3:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
5:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
5:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
Sailings at Risk of Cancellation:
7:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
7:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
9:00 pm departing Tsawwassen
9:00 pm departing Swartz Bay
In addition, the schedule for Horseshoe Bay (Vancouver) – Langdale (Sunshine Coast) sailings has been revised for Dec. 25.
Sailings between Little River (Comox) and Powell River (Westview) have been cancelled.
If anyone has a booking on one of these affected sailings, BC Ferries’ Customer Service Centre is in the process of contacting you to provide the modified departure time.