The B.C. River Forecast Centre is issuing a flood watch for portions of the South Coast of B.C. as well as Vancouver Island heading into the weekend and early next week.
A series of storms will bring heavy rain starting Friday and continuing through the weekend, with Monday expected to see the strongest atmospheric river event, according to the river forecast centre.
West Vancouver Island is expected to receive the heaviest amounts of rainfall along with the Coastal Mountains, with 200 to 300 mm forecasted in those areas between Saturday and Wednesday.
Localized areas could see as much as 400 mm of rainfall.
Other areas under the flood watch include the remainder of Vancouver Island, Howe Sound, Sunshine Coast, Sea-to-Sky and North Shore Mountains as well as the Fraser Valley-North, including Harrisons and Port Coquitlam.
Warming temperatures will also mean that snowmelt at lower elevations will lead to additional river-runoff.
For a full look at potentially affected areas, residents are encouraged to visit the B.C. River Forecast Centre dashboard.
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Cole Sorenson
