B.C. braces for heavy rain, potential floods as latest atmospheric river arrives

Residents on Vancouver Island and across the inner south coast are being urged to prepare for possible flooding as a storm packing heavy rain and warm temperatures sweeps over the region.

The first of what is expected to be a three wave environmental river hit the west coast of the Island this morning and is bringing heavy rain to the Lower Mainland this afternoon, with downpours of 100 to 150 millimetres expected in many areas by Thursday.

Mild temperatures are also expected to raise the freezing level about 2,500 metres, melting unusually heavy mid-level snow packs and swelling area waterways, prompting high streamflow advisories from the River Forecast Centre.

The Fraser Valley, which is still recovering from November's catastrophic floods, is included in the rainfall warnings but Environment Canada says the Abbotsford likely won't bear the brunt of the downpours, although residents are being warned to watch for localized flooding.