An intense frontal system brought heavy rains to the southern half of Vancouver Island with 30 to 84 millimeters falling over the first two days of the year.
According to Environment Canada, 32.6 mm of rain was recorded at the University of Victoria and 30.9 mm of rain was recorded at Victoria International Airport yesterday.
Elsewhere, Port Alberni saw 42.5 mm, Duncan had 26.4 mm, Qualicum Beach recorded 19.6 mm and the Malahat received 50.2 mm of precipitation.
All that rainfall resulted in high water levels and raging rivers, from the Englishman River Falls in Parksville, to the Sooke Potholes, and Nanaimo’s Millstone River.
A high streamflow advisory remains in place for west Vancouver Island, central Vancouver Island, south Vancouver Island and other areas of eastern Vancouver Island.
B.C. River Forecast Centre said on Saturday that there has been significant rainfall in certain areas of Vancouver Island on Thursday and Friday, with more than 110 mm falling in some areas alone.
Nanaimo-Parksville
On Sunday, people living at Parry’s RV and Campground on Martindale Road in Parksville returned to their homes after being told to evacuate the area.
“You can’t argue with an angry river,” said Catherine Bauer, a resident of the RV park. “You just don’t know for sure what’s going to happen. So to be on the safe side, we went up and stayed and they had us all in a motel.”
Heavy rains caused Martindale Road to flood and search and rescue volunteers helped 15 people flee their homes in small boats last night.
Yesterday, Nanaimo Regional District issued evacuation alerts for residents living north of Parry’s Park Road in Parksville and those living in an area around Wilkinson Road in Nanaimo due to rising water levels on the Nanaimo and Englishmen rivers.
RELATED: Rainfall warnings, flood watch issued for parts of Vancouver Island
RELATED: Sooke Potholes reopen to the public after being closed due to rising water levels
Ken Neden of Arrowsmith Search and Rescue says the water level was rising on Martindale Road as the tide was going out.
“Because it is a tidal area, the water was actually rising quite quickly while the tide was going out. So we were concerned while the tide was coming in that it would be a major major flood event,” he said.
Meanwhile, a video posted on social media shows the Millstone River in Nanaimo, near Highway 19 overflowing and flooding nearby streets and yards.
The Millstone River in #Nanaimo is overflowing its banks, flooding surrounding yards and Maxey Road in #BCStorm ?@CHEK_News? pic.twitter.com/nKUZBzYMct
— Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) January 3, 2021
The Millstone River has dropped but is still waiting running high and fast @CHEK_News #bcstorm the pic.twitter.com/OPUSDatR3Z
— Skye Ryan (@SkyeRyanCHEK) January 3, 2021
Cowichan Valley
In the Cowichan Valley today, the waters are receding but some roads remained closed. There was an evacuation order for nine homes in the area.
Cowichan Tribes First Nation issued an evacuation order to residents living Wil’seem Road and Sahilton Road. They also issued an evacuation alert to residents living in certain areas of Quw’utsun Territory due to rising river water levels.
Capital Regional District
The District of Sooke said in an update posted to their website on Sunday that the Sooke Potholes are now open to the public.
“With water receding, the Sooke Potholes are open,” said Christina Moog, communication coordinator with the District of Sooke.
The popular area had been closed to visitors since Saturday afternoon after the Capital Regional District determined that the Sooke Lake Reservoir was at full capacity and overflowing due to heavy rain.
High up on the potholes, the Sooke River explodes after heavy rains. Nature is grand! pic.twitter.com/LCNFJ9r4hn
— Darron Kloster (@darronkloster) January 3, 2021
RELATED: Wastewater discharges along shorelines in Greater Victoria
Heavy rain on Saturday also resulted in combined stormwater and wastewater overflows along shorelines in Saanich and Oak Bay, according to the Capital Regional District.
Discharges occurred between Arbutus Cove Lane and Telegraph Bay Road in Saanich, between Tarn Place in Oak Bay and Seaview Road in Saanich including Cadboro Bay, and between Trafalgar Park and Radcliffe Lane including McNeill Bay in Oak Bay.
Comox Valley
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and Island Health have issued a joint boil water notice on Saturday for the majority of the region due to increased turbidity levels in both Comox Lake and Puntledge River as a result of heavy rain.
The advisory applies to residents living in the City of Courtenay, the Town of Comox as well as the Comox Valley, Arden, Marsden/Camco, Greaves Crescent, and England Road water local service areas.
“All users of the Comox Valley water system are instructed to boil their drinking water for one minute at a rolling boil,” the Comox Valley Regional District said in a statement.
However, the advisory does not apply to residents living in the Village of Cumberland, Royston or those connected to the Black Creek-Oyster Bay water supply system
Approximately 45,000 residents served by the Comox Valley water system.
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