An emergency has been declared in the Regional District of Nanaimo due to flooding in Parksville and Whiskey Creek and a landslide in Lantzville.
The district says a Level 2 Emergency Operation Centre has been activated. This means an emergency affecting multiple jurisdictions, populations and areas.
Martindale Road in Parksville, Melrose Road in Whiskey Creek and Rumming Road in Lantzville, are now closed.
PHOTOS: Washout on Melrose Road in Whiskey Creek:
Chelsea Johnson and Jay Delbeke own property on Melrose Road. “Our tenants texted us and told us there was no more road,” said Johnson. “I was expecting it to be a flood and there’s literally no road.”
Delbeke said it happened at about 3 a.m. Monday.
“They can’t fix it until the water levels decrease,” said Johnson. “We’re hoping about a week.”
“We’re very lucky no one drove into it because you wouldn’t see it in the dark and it just looked like a puddle.”
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Rain in the region is expected to taper off later Monday but a rainfall warning remains in effect for Vancouver Island and the South Coast.
Global BC meteorologist Mark Madryga says a moisture-rich flow of air flowing in from east of Hawaii has resulted in heavy rainfall across the south coast over the past 24 hours.
“So far, 30 to 50 millimetres have fallen over Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, 70 to 150 millimetres over Howe Sound, and in excess of 200 millimetres on parts of West Vancouver Island,” Madryga says.
“Very mild air is connected to this flow, leading to heavy rain on the North Shore Mountains. Rain has been falling on the Coquihalla summit as well, with snow hitting the mountain passes of the southeast B.C. Interior.”
The heavy rain and cold front will continue through Monday in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, but the rain will taper to showers Monday afternoon.
“Milder air will return to the South Coast with more rain on Thursday and Friday,” Madryga adds.
Flood warnings issued
The B.C. River Forecast Centre issued a flood watch for parts of Vancouver Island Sunday night.
There is a flood warning in place for southern Vancouver Island including the Chemainus River, Cowichan River, Koksilah River and surrounding areas.
Eastern Vancouver Island is under flood watch, including the Englishman and Bowser, Parksville, Qualicum, Nanaimo and surrounding areas.
There is a high streamflow advisory in place for Tsolum River, Oyster River and tributaries around Campbell River, Courtenay, and Comox, Sproat River, Somass River and tributaries and areas around Port Alberni and areas around Tofino and tributaries around Sutton Pass and surrounding areas.
Rainfall totals
Environment Canada has issued updated totals for parts of Vancouver Island as of 12 p.m. Monday.
Forty-nine millimetres of rain has been recorded at Victoria Intentional Airport, 110 millimetres of rain has been recorded at Bowser Forestry Site, 52.4 millimetres of rain has been recorded at Comox Airport, while 253.4 millimetres has been recorded at Tofino Airport.
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