Vancouver, B.C. – Environment Canada has issued significant rainfall warnings for low-lying areas of southwestern British Columbia as heavy rain continues to impact the region. This announcement comes shortly after previous flood warnings were triggered by last week’s severe inundations in the Fraser Valley. The weather agency predicts that regions including Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley could receive up to 70 millimeters of rain by Wednesday morning.
Additionally, rainfall warnings extend to Vancouver Island, particularly affecting areas from Greater Victoria to Nanaimo. This weather phenomenon is expected to be compounded by high winds arriving this evening along Vancouver Island’s west coast, as well as in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Some locations are projected to experience gusts reaching as high as 100 kilometers per hour, raising further concerns about potential damages and outages.
According to BC Hydro, over 7,000 customers across the province were still without power as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Many of these outages stemmed from strong winds that downed power lines the previous day. The situation highlights the widespread impact of the adverse weather conditions across British Columbia.
On the transportation front, the provincial DriveBC information system indicates that most highways in the southwestern region are open. However, Highway 3, which connects Hope to Princeton, is currently closed. Travellers are advised to exercise caution, as hazardous driving conditions are present on Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon and on the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt.
Cleanup operations began on Monday in the Fraser Valley, where water levels that surged following overflows from the Nooksack River in Washington State have started to recede. Despite this progress, the flood threat remains for several rivers in British Columbia, and it has now expanded to include areas on the North Shore of Metro Vancouver. B.C. Emergency Management Minister Kelly Greene stated that the heavy rain has led to an “increased flood and landslide risk” in this area.
Greene issued a warning to residents, advising them to steer clear of riverbanks and waterways due to elevated water levels, which pose a risk of instability. As the region braces for further rainfall and adverse weather conditions, safety remains a priority for communities affected by the ongoing situation.
This report outlines the severe weather conditions currently impacting southwestern British Columbia, shedding light on the ongoing challenges faced by residents and authorities as they navigate the aftermath of heavy rains and strong winds.
