The BC River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for northern Vancouver Island.
In addition, a high streamflow advisory is in place for the island’s west, east, and south regions, as a powerful pacific storm is set to bring heavy rainfall to coastal areas of BC this week.
According to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, rainfall will begin late Wednesday and intensify through Thursday and Friday.
The system is expected to drop 60 to 150 millimetres of rain on the island’s west and north coasts, while 20 to 50 millimetres is forecast for eastern and southern areas including Victoria, Nanaimo, and the Cowichan Valley.
The warning says rivers on the northern Vancouver Island side could rise high enough to cause flooding in some areas, while the rest of the island could still see fast-moving water and minor flooding in low-lying spots.
“Rivers are expected to rise rapidly on Thursday and into Friday in response to heavy rainfall,” said the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
People are being reminded to stay clear of riverbanks and fast-moving water and to never drive across flooded roads or bridges. With leaves clogging drains this time of year, localized flooding could also become an issue in urban areas.
The River Forecast Centre says it will keep monitoring conditions and provide updates if things change.
