Atmospheric river approaching B.C.'s South Coast, Vancouver Island: officials

CBC News

· Posted: Mar 07, 2025 12:11 PM EST | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

B.C.'s River Forecast Centre has issued a precocious streamflow advisory for parts of Vancouver Island and the South Coast owed to an incoming atmospheric river.

An atmospheric stream is simply a large, constrictive watercourse of h2o vapour that travels done the sky.

Areas of the state volition beryllium drenched from Friday nighttime done Sunday, according to officials. West Vancouver Island could get 150 to 200 mm of rainfall and the South Coast Mountains could get 100 to 200 mm. 

The centre says it doesn't cognize which areas volition beryllium deed the hardest. It said runoff and streamflows volition apt commencement to summation Friday night, starting connected North Vancouver Island and proceeding southbound arsenic the tempest moves done the region.

WATCH | Atmospheric rivers, explained:

Significant flooding isn't expected, the centre said, but localized flooding and h2o pooling connected roads are possible, peculiarly astatine little elevations and successful areas with mediocre drainage. 

"Fast-flowing rivers airs accrued hazard to beingness safety, and the nationalist is urged to beryllium cautious. The River Forecast Centre continues to show the conditions and volition supply updates arsenic conditions warrant," the centre said successful its advisory.

Environment Canada has besides issued rainfall warnings for westbound Vancouver Island and East Vancouver Island. 

It said for regions northbound of and including Tofino, dense rainfall is expected Friday evening and volition easiness to periods of airy rainfall connected Saturday.