No weather alerts issued for B.C. after several weeks of severe conditions

No weather alerts issued for B.C. after several weeks of severe conditions
Environment Canada
For the first time in a few weeks, Environment Canada has not issued any weather alerts for B.C.

After an onslaught of snow, freezing rain, wind, rain and more, Environment Canada has not issued any weather alerts for B.C. on Dec. 28.

Alyssa Charbonneau, meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the service does not track days without weather alerts, but it has been a few weeks with weather alerts issued.

“There was a little bit of quieter weather towards the beginning of December, where we likely didn’t have many warnings out, or I think there might have even been a few days where maybe there weren’t really too many,” Charbonneau said.

“This time of year, November, December, typically are very active weather periods for B.C. so it’s a time of year when we tend to have a lot of warnings.”

The past few weeks have been active weeks for weather warnings, according to Charbonneau.

“Especially with the active weather that we saw last week, and even the week before with that cold air coming down arctic outbreak beginning, it was lots of warnings have been out,” Charbonneau said.

Wednesday may provide a brief pause in the eventful weather in the province, but Charbonneau says that may not last long.

“We are tracking some potential for some stronger winds along the coast this week. That would be sort of more northern parts of Vancouver Island and potentially Haida Gwaii tomorrow, and then also we are expecting more rain to come for the mainland area, potentially some winds for southern Vancouver Island as well,” Charbonneau said.

“That would be all the things that we’re tracking for Thursday, Friday onwards. Right now, it’s currently marginal, so we’re not sure if warnings will be issued, but it’s quite possible that our blank slate will not last long at this time of year.”

The longer periods of active weather have had impacts that the Island and province are still dealing with, with the king tide expected to be around for the next few days, and an avalanche risk being elevated across the province.

READ MORE: Evacuation alert extended in North Cowichan due to flood watch

“So those are the sort of impacts that we’re seeing right now,” Charbonneau said. “Going forward we’re not really seeing the storm pattern ending, but things are settling down a little bit more, and conditions do look, at least the next few days, a bit more of a typical winter weather.”

Earlier in the day, flood watches were still in effect for parts of the province, however, around noon the River Forecast Centre ended the flood watches and high streamflow advisories on Vancouver Island.

While there are no active weather alerts in place, Charbonneau says drivers should still use caution especially on highways.

“If you’re travelling highway routes, they can be vastly different than what we’re seeing at sea level, and so always, even with a more not extreme storm in the forecast, always make sure you check your the highway conditions the forecast before you travel have an emergency kit in your car,” Charbonneau said.

“Because while it’s not looking like extreme weather pattern like what we saw last week, of course, this time of year, you can always encounter rapidly changing in winter conditions over higher elevation risks and it can pose a challenge.”

Laura BroughamLaura Brougham

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