Atmospheric river pours over several parts of British Columbia

An atmospheric river is washing over several parts of British Columbia, with the worst of the weather system hitting part of Vancouver Island and the Fraser and Skagit valleys.

Environment Canada has issued more than a dozen warnings from eastern Vancouver Island and along the southern Interior as a warm wash of heavy rain moves in, while the advisories for northern and southeastern B.C. caution about snow or bitter cold. 

The Fraser and Skagit valleys and the eastern side of Vancouver Island could see up to 110 millimetres of rain before it moves on Wednesday evening, which the forecaster says will cause high stream flows and localized flooding. 

Snowfall warnings are up for Yoho and Kootenay parks, the northern coast and the Willison area where 15 to 25 centimetres is expected to fall before it eases off on Wednesday. 

Bitter cold is the problem along the boundary with Yukon, where it will dip down to minus 45 with the wind chill in the Cassiar Mountains and Watson Lake. 

The BC River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for lower Fraser River tributaries through the Fraser Valley and into the southern Interior, while high streamflow advisories cover Vancouver Island, much of the B.C. coast and the remainder of the southern interior.