Atmospheric river set to hit Lower Mainland over the weekend

After a reasonably sunny week, much of B.C.’s South Coast, including the Lower Mainland, is set for a drenching.

An atmospheric river is on its way to the region, settling in over Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley beginning early Saturday.

1130 NewsRadio meteorologist Michal Kuss explains the “downright stormy” weather will bring up to five millimetres of rain per hour.

“The main event is tomorrow, for sure. Especially tomorrow morning into the early afternoon,” Kuss said Friday.

“That’s the window we’re talking about, where it won’t only be raining, but it’s going to be windy as well. Winds could gust to 50 to 60 kilometres per hour, with sustained winds in the 30 km range.”

For southern parts of Metro Vancouver, like Delta, South Surrey, and Richmond, Kuss says around 20 to 30 mm of rain could fall over the entire weekend.

However, those parts closer to the mountains and further inland will see almost double, he explained.

“If you’re the City of Vancouver, New West and north, you’ll probably see 50 plus, or potentially 50 plus. So we’re keeping an eye on that through that weekend stretch, with 70 to 80 millimeters on the high side,” he added.

As of Friday morning, an official rain warning hasn’t been put in place, but Kuss says he wouldn’t be surprised to see one come down.

“I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw them for northern Metro Vancouver and out into the western part of the Fraser Valley, too.”

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