Residents of parts of British Columbia’s Lower Mainland are being warned to prepare for heavy rain this weekend.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the western Fraser Valley, parts of Metro Vancouver including the North Shore and the Tri-Cities area, the Sunshine Coast and Howe Sound.
The national climate and weather agency says rain is expected to develop early Sunday morning as “a strong onshore flow will develop and direct a developing storm system towards the south coast.”
The rain is forecast to intensify through Sunday evening.
“Upslope areas from the Lower Sunshine Coast to the Lower Fraser Valley are expected to receive the heaviest amounts of precipitation through the period,” Environment Canada said.
Get daily National news
Global BC senior meteorologist Kristi Gordon said there was still plenty of uncertainty the volume of precipitation, with early projections suggesting between 40 and 150 millimetres depending on location.
Gordon said freezing levels on Sunday are expected to be in the 1,200-1,500 metre range, higher than the local mountains, meaning snow melt could also be a concern.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued a high streamflow advisory for the South Coast and Vancouver Island, and is urging people to keep away from fast-flowing creeks and rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks.
Strong, gusty winds are also possible across Metro Vancouver, Abbotsford and Howe Sound Sunday night and Monday morning.
The rain is forecast to transition back to showers by Monday morning.
Comments