Atmospheric river easing but rainfall warnings persist

The South Coast storm is expected to ease Sunday, but rainfall warnings are still active for much of the region.

Environment Canada says around 15 to 25 millimetres of rain are expected around the Vancouver area Sunday, with a tapering off in the evening.

The BC River Forecast Center has a flood watch for the entire South Coast. The Coquitlam River and parts of West Vancouver Island — including rivers around Tofino, Bamfield, Port Renfrew, and surrounding areas — are under a flood warning.

Rain around the region had already broken records on Thursday. An all-time rainfall record for 24 hours is expected for Langley, another record at YVR, and other notable amounts in several municipalities.

The atmospheric river has already done a lot of damage, and it isn’t clear what comes next.

The North Shore was overwhelmed with rain and floodwater Saturday as the atmospheric river continued across coastal B.C.

Videos posted to social media show Deep Cove and other parts of North Vancouver with flooded streets, homes, and businesses.

Meanwhile, Coquitlam Search and Rescue crews were called out to save a trio of hikers stranded off Burke Mountain and to rig up a series of ropes to ferry the hikers across a creek that had exploded into a raging river.

With files from Charles Brockman.