24.99°C Vancouver

Nov 23, 2021 1:40 AM - The Canadian Press

'Parade of storms' expected in British Columbia: Environment Canada

Share On

Environment and Climate Change Canada is warning that more rainfall is expected in B.C. this week and it will likely affect areas that are still recovering from last week's floods.

Warning preparedness meteorologist Armel Castellan said a "parade of storms" is expected throughout the fall and winter in the province.

"The forecast going forward for the south coast is very wet," he said. "We are bracing for a record-breaking fall in terms of overall precipitation numbers for communities along the central and south coast."

While the province won't likely see the same amounts of rainfall as it did last week, he said there is a strong indication that active storms will start Thursday.

He said the department is forecasting another so-called atmospheric river, which will tap into subtropical moisture and heat. He said it is expected to bring 40 to 70 millimetres of rain in the Fraser Valley and potentially more than 100 millimetres in the North Shore Mountains around Howe Sound.

Castellan said the department has regularly briefed Emergency Management B.C. on storms and their possible effects.

"When you have a parade of storms or an incredible fall, as we have since the middle of September with upwards of 200 per cent of normal rain, the soils are very saturated and a lot of the moisture immediately creates a runoff issue," he said, adding melting snow caused by dropping and rising temperatures through the winter could also create additional problems.

He said dry summers have also changed the province's landscape, but the link between wildfires and mudslides is "very conceptual at this point" and will require a forensic and geomorphological analysis.

Earlier Monday, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said the federal government is working with Environment Canada to develop a ranking system for atmospheric rivers, which would help the province better understand potential risks.

"(Atmospheric river) is obviously a new term that I think most of us are now becoming familiar with and they have a ranking system in the States that will allow us to prepare more effectively," he said.

Farnworth said he has been told the system would be implemented in January, but Castellan said a launch date for a warning system has not been confirmed.

"The atmospheric scale and rating system is exciting, but it's just not quite ready and it would be irresponsible to push it out before it is," he said.

Latest news

city-of-delta-celebrates-opening-of-new-delta-secondary-school-track
BCJun 02, 2025

City of Delta celebrates opening of new Delta Secondary School track​ 

The City of Delta, in partnership with the Delta School District and Province of British Columbia, celebrated the grand opening of the new track and infield at Delta Secondary School. ​​Alongside students from Delta Secondary and elementary schools around Ladner, Delta Council was joined by Surrey-City Centre MLA Amna Shah, Delta South MLA Ian Paton, as well as Delta School Trustees and representatives from Tsawwassen First Nation, to officially open the upgraded track and field facility. In the spirit of “hitting the ground running,” students participated in a baton relay on the newly
b-c-provides-peek-into-2-95b-skytrain-tunnel-set-to-open-in-2027
BCJun 02, 2025

B.C. provides peek into $2.95B SkyTrain tunnel, set to open in 2027

The British Columbia government has provided a glimpse of progress on the Broadway subway tunnel, which is set to expand Metro Vancouver's SkyTrain capacity significantly in 2027. Transportation Minister Mike Farnworth led a media tour of the construction of the tunnel, part of a 5.7-kilometre extension of the SkyTrain Millennium Line from VCC-Clark Station to Arbutus Street on Vancouver's West Side.Farnworth says the $2.95-billion construction project also features a 700-metre stretch of elevated track before the route plunges under Broadway, and about 750 workers are involved.He says the new
wso-says-stephen-harpers-comments-echo-indian-propaganda-fuel-anti-sikh-hate
BCJun 02, 2025

WSO says, Stephen Harper’s comments echo Indian propaganda, fuel anti-Sikh hate

The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has condemned former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent comments about improving Canada's relations with India. WSO says, Harper once again attempted to vilify Sikh Canadians and minimize India’s role in undermining Canadian sovereignty. WSO's press release: Speaking at the Impact Media & Events Corporation’s Canada-India Charity Gala in Brampton on Saturday, Mr. Harper stated that political parties should shun Sikhs who support Khalistan if they wish to have stronger relations with India, calling the Khalistan movement “fringe” a
sombre-start-to-filipino-heritage-month-in-b-c-as-festival-attacks-shadow-lingers
BCJun 02, 2025

Sombre start to Filipino Heritage Month in B.C. as festival attack's shadow lingers

British Columbia is celebrating the start of this year's Filipino Heritage Month in a more sombre mood than usual. The celebrations come a little over a month after the deadly attack on the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver that killed 11 people and injured scores of others. Premier David Eby says while the province continues to grieve, the community coming together to heal demonstrates how ``strength in unity'' has enriched B-C's cultural fabric. New Democrat legislative member Mable Elmore, who is of Filipino descent, says her community is healing and will emerge stronger from the trage
joly-commits-to-prioritizing-canadian-steel-aluminum-for-defence-infrastructure
CanadaJun 02, 2025

Joly commits to prioritizing Canadian steel, aluminum for defence, infrastructure

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly says Ottawa is committed to using Canadian steel and aluminum in national infrastructure and defence projects as President Donald Trump threatens to impose more tariffs. Joly met with aluminum industry leaders at a summit in Montreal on Sunday. Joly says the government is waiting to see if Trump follows through on his threat to increase steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 per cent through an executive order. The United Steelworkers union says it welcomes Joly's announcement. Union national director Marty Warren says his organization will be watching to ensure the f

Related News