Flooding seen in low-lying areas around Metro Vancouver
Posted December 27, 2022 12:21 pm.
Last Updated December 28, 2022 7:09 am.
Heavy rainfall, melting snow and a king tide resulted in flooding in some low-lying areas around Metro Vancouver on Tuesday.
Cities around the region warned of such conditions given the factors at hand. Delta, Vancouver, Richmond and others all came out with warnings on Monday ahead of the wet weather that was anticipated Tuesday.
Due to today’s storm surge and king tides, localized flooding is now occurring in some low-lying areas of the City of Vancouver. Please don't drive through flooded waters. pic.twitter.com/bBz08Jm9xg
— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) December 27, 2022
Mayor of Delta, George Harvie, says the area did not see any extensive damage during the height of the tides.
“We were very fortunate that at the very height of the king tide, the wind died down,” he told CityNews on Tuesday.
“A bit of lapping of water over but very minimal damage. Compared to what’s happening in the rest of Canada, we’re very fortunate.”
Harvie says the city had a “very good” action plan and was prepared for the weather event.
In anticipation of the flooding, Vancouver Park Board closed sections of the seawall as ocean levels were expected to pour onto it. That included a section around Stanley Park between the Lions Gate Bridge and English Bay, as well as near the Kitsilano Pool.
Due to the current conditions, Stanley Park Seawall from Lion's Gate to English Bay, and sections around Kits Pool will be closed until further notice (Tuesday, December 27th). Please take care in all low-lying coastal areas, beaches and waterfront over the coming days. pic.twitter.com/n4FOeXJKVk
— Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (@ParkBoard) December 27, 2022
Once the high tide came in on Tuesday morning, many took to social media to share the scenes of flooding around the region.
In Vancouver, pictures and videos show the ocean waters near the top of the seawall, in some cases pouring onto it.
“City of Vancouver staff tell me park Rangers will turn people around at this point on the Stanley Park Seawall,” wrote one Twitter user.
City of Vancouver staff tell me park Rangers will turn people around at this point on the Stanley Park Seawall. And high winds are coming. Third Beach. Downtown #Vancouver #KingTide pic.twitter.com/PnL8TLxYpK
— Stephen A. Braverman (@stephenbraverm1) December 27, 2022
— Stephen A. Braverman (@stephenbraverm1) December 27, 2022
Former Park Board commissioner, Tricia Barker, shared a tweet near Sunset Beach, saying “When the king tide makes our public art part of a new island.”
When the king tide makes our public art part of a new island.#sunsetbeach #vancouver#pickhappy #enough pic.twitter.com/t9Q1TYobxd
— Tricia Barker ???????????????????????????????????? (@TriciaBarker49) December 27, 2022
The flood waters also impacted transit in Vancouver. Elevators from the street to the concourse at Vancouver City Centre for the Canada Line are out of service because of the flooding, according to TransLink.
#StationAlert The street to concourse level & concourse to street level escalators at Canada Line Vancouver City Centre Station are temporarily out of service until further notice due to flooding. ^pj
— TransLink BC (@TransLink) December 27, 2022
Vancouver resident David Pratt, who lives near Granville Island, told CityNews the weather conditions Tuesday were like nothing he’s ever seen in the city.
“Combine the weather with high tide and all of it, all of the water taxis have been shut down,” he said.
“This is as crazy as I’ve ever seen it and I’ve spent my whole life here.”
London Landing in Richmond is also saw some flooding, with someone sharing photos showing water levels creeping up a sign in the area.
https://twitter.com/ChrisMc23511957/status/1607797385811623937
In Squamish, Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist, Jason Ross, shared a photo of the city’s downtown, with water seen cascading over the roadway.
King tide flooding happening in downtown #Squamish #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/jyAEta4WNe
— Jason Ross (@Squamishweather) December 27, 2022
A rainfall warning was issued for Metro Vancouver, with ECCC calling for up to 80 millimetres of rain in some regions by Wednesday.
In January, a different king tide event also saw water spill onto Vancouver’s seawall, causing extensive damage to a section near Stanley Park, as well as to the Kitsilano Pool. Repairs to both areas took months.
-With files from Charlene Co and Michael Williams
