VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA / MENA Newswire / – Several flood watches are in place across southwest British Columbia as another storm system made landfall on Tuesday. Forecasters say some areas could receive more than 250 millimetres of rain. Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued six orange weather warnings, which signal widespread impacts. They cover much of Vancouver Island, the Interior and northern regions. The storm follows weekend systems that left thousands of residents without power for days.
The Village of Pemberton issued an evacuation alert at 4:15 p.m. PT on Tuesday for multiple properties along Airport Road. The village said high river flows and significant precipitation could cause flooding in the area. An alert means residents must be ready to leave on short notice. Pemberton has opened a self-serve sandbag station at the municipal hall parking lot. The Pemberton Valley is also covered by one of the province’s flood watches.
Thousands of British Columbians were battered by storms over the weekend. Trees fell onto cars and power lines, cutting electricity to several areas for multiple days. The Ministry of Transportation and Transit issued a traffic advisory on Tuesday evening, warning of possible flood conditions on South Coast highways. The province has faced repeated wet-weather emergencies, including major flooding last December. More weather systems are expected to move through B.C. in the coming days.
Orange warnings cover much of the province
Strong winds are expected in the Chilcotin and Prince George areas, while heavy rain is forecast for inland Vancouver Island and Howe Sound. Environment Canada has also issued 10 yellow weather warnings for a mix of wind and rainfall. These cover much of Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Interior and northern B.C. The agency is predicting 150 to 200 millimetres of rain for west and central Vancouver Island. Up to 120 millimetres could fall on the North Shore, and some parts may exceed 250 millimetres.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued flood watches for the South Coast, Vancouver Island and river basins in the Central Coast and Fraser Valley. The centre said temperatures would stay warm through Wednesday, which could melt shallow snowpacks at higher elevations. It warned of unstable banks, river erosion, submerged roads, swift water hazards, flooding and landslides. Residents were told to stay clear of fast-running rivers. Heavy rain also caused flooding and outages in Montreal in June.
Hydro crews slowed by fallen trees and debris
As of Monday night, thousands of B.C. Hydro customers remained without power after the weekend storms. The Central Interior and northern Vancouver Island were among the hardest-hit areas. The utility said restoration work was continuing while it monitored the additional systems on the way. B.C. Hydro said fallen trees, debris and soft ground were slowing repairs in some areas. Zeballos, on northwest Vancouver Island, has been without power for days. A number of properties there remain under an evacuation order after a landslide last week.
The ministry said the Sea-to-Sky Highway and Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley and Fraser Canyon could be most affected. The Malahat and west coast communities on Vancouver Island are also at risk. Drivers have been told to watch for pooling water, fallen debris and road closures on short notice. The Road Safety at Work initiative urged motorists to check DriveBC before travelling. In Vancouver, police said a 78-year-old woman died after being hit by a car on Friday at Dunbar Street and West 34th Avenue.