High streamflow advisory issued for Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, South Coast

A Christmas storm has provoked a warning of fast-rising rivers from B.C.’s River Forecast Centre.

Beginning Monday night, the centre says river levels are expected to rise quickly around Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound, the North Shore Mountains and the Fraser Valley.

The storm will be centred on western and northern Vancouver Island, with the potential to spill over further inland.

It says river flows are expected to peak Tuesday into Wednesday, depending upon how the storm travels.

However, the forecast centre says a lot of uncertainty still remains around where the storm will travel to, how much rainfall it will bring and what the significance of the rain-on-snow inputs, or ice crust formation, will be.

If temperatures are warm enough, the centre says snowmelt can substantially add to already heavy runoff, which can cause pooling and localized flooding.

Minor flooding is possible in low-lying areas, but the centre says no major flooding is expected.