Flood watch issued for North Shore mountains, coastal areas

The B.C. Rover Forecast Centre is upgrading its alert for some parts of B.C.’s South Coast as the rain keeps coming down.

A Flood Watch has been issued for the North Shore Mountains, Howe Sound around Squamish, the Sunshine Coast, and parts of Vancouver Island through Friday.

As part of the region see up to 120 millimetres of rain during this atmospheric river event, the centre says the rain, coupled with higher temperatures and snow melt will contribute to higher-than-normal runoff levels.

The centre says a Flood Watch means that river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed river banks, and flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers might happen.

“Rivers are expected to rise through Thursday, with current peak levels anticipated on Friday and into Saturday. Weather forecasts currently have the heaviest rainfall anticipated in the North Shore Mountains, Howe Sound area. Weather forecasts and hydrologic modelling is indicating the potential for precipitation totals and river flows to reach or exceed 5-year return period values.

“Overbank flooding is possible at these levels.”

Since Thursday morning, the forecast centre says over 60 millimetres of rain has fallen in the South Coast region.