Get those umbrellas ready. After a long season of drought, rains are set to reach Vancouver Island later this week.
A weak front moving over the Island is expected to bring rain on Saturday, according to CHEK’s Tess van Straaten, and after that a potential atmospheric river could reach Vancouver Island, as well as southern B.C. and Washington state.
Most areas of the Island, with the exception of Victoria, can expect to be drenched over a span of four days next week.
Comox is forecast to get 60 to 80 millimetres of rain between Sunday and Wednesday, while Tofino could see 100 to 135 millimetres.
Up north, Port Hardy can expect to see 95 to 130 millimetres of rain between Saturday and Tuesday.
Less rain is expected in Victoria, where eight to 12 millimetres of rain is predicted between Sunday and Wednesday, while Naniamo is expected to see around 30 millimetres during this time.
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Sept. 21, 2023. (Environment Canada)
Those totals, over just four days, surpasses the amount of rain the Island has seen over the last few months combined.
For example, between May 1 and Sept. 21, Victoria International Airport recorded just 57 millimetres of rain over that four month span.
The wet weather could help quell wildfire conditions on the Island, but could also lead to flooding – especially considering how dry the soil is following prolonged drought.
The province says the upcoming rainfall, while “substantial,” won’t be enough to lower drought conditions in B.C.
The ministry of forests adds that the amount of precipitation is not unusual for fall storms on Vancouver Island.
“Although severe flooding is unlikely as a result of the upcoming storm, we’ll be monitoring the situation closely as rivers and streams may rise rapidly for the first time in months,” said the ministry in a statement Thursday.
“It’s important to be aware of conditions and expect sudden increases in water levels during rainfall events.”
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Adam Chan
