Environment Canada has issued wind, rain, and snowfall warnings for parts of Vancouver Island.
East Vancouver Island, from Courtenay to Campbell River, is under snowfall and rainfall warnings, while Greater Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands are under wind warnings.
The snowfall warning for the east part of the Island is in effect through the morning where five centimetres of snow is expected over higher terrain. At sea level it is expected to be a mix of snow and rain.
The rainfall warning for East Vancouver Island is expected to last until Saturday evening with 30 millimetres of rain expected.
“A low pressure system will continue to bring a mix of rain and snow to Vancouver Island. Regarding rainfall, an additional 30 mm is expected now through this evening,” Environment Canada says in a notice on its website. ”
Rainfall will be the dominant precipitation phase across communities closer to sea level and will be heaviest this morning. Come afternoon, steady rainfall will persist until this evening once the system tracks out of the region.”
The weather service also warns that the heavy downpour can cause flash floods and pooling on the roads. Drivers are cautioned to turn on lights and maintain a safe following distance while driving.
Greater Victoria and Southern Gulf Islands are under a wind warning with southeast winds of 70 kilometres per hour gusting to 90.
The warning is expected to remain in place through the morning and after that it will remain windy but the speeds will drop below the warning criteria.
“In additional to the very strong winds, this event will also coincide with local high tides at 10 am today,” Environment Canada says in a notice on its website. “The combined force of the two could create a high water level situation along beaches affecting coastal walkways and debris washing further up the shoreline. Extra caution is recommended during this time.”
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Laura Brougham
