Flood watch issued for South Coast, Vancouver Island

B.C.’s River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for areas in the South Coast and on Vancouver Island.

The watch applies to the Sunshine Coast, Sea-to-Sky, North Shore mountains, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island.

The centre says between Saturday and Wednesday, a series of “potent” storms is expected. Up to 250 millimetres of rain could fall during that time in Metro Vancouver.

Monday is expected to bring the worst of the storms.

“Current forecasting is indicating the strongest atmospheric river event making landfall on Monday, with the potential for additional rainfall in the middle of next week,” the River Forecast Centre said in a news release. “The heaviest rainfall is currently forecast over West Vancouver Island and the Coast Mountains.”

As well, melting snow due to warmer temperatures is also expected to contribute to rising rivers.

A flood watch is issued when river levels have the potential to rise and exceed bankfull, and flooding of areas near rivers is possible.

The centre has also issued a high streamflow advisory for Lower Fraser tributaries, including areas around Pemberton, Lillooet River tributaries, Fraser Valley-East, and the Fraser Canyon.

High streamflow advisories are issued when river levels are rising but no major flooding is expected.

Rivers are forecast to rise over the weekend, with peak levels on Sunday to Tuesday.