Updates continue at the top of the post.
Flood Watch issued for Tofino and Port Alice regions.
Upgraded: Flood Watch – North and West Vancouver Island
Updated: 10:30 AM January 03, 2020
The River Forecast Centre is upgrading the High Streamflow Advisory to a Flood Watch for:
- North Vancouver Island including Port Alice, the Zeballos River, Pugh Creek, San Josef River, Simpson Creek and surrounding areas,
- West Vancouver Island including Tofino, the Sarita River, Carnation Creek and surrounding areas
According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), a strong Pacific storm has moved to the BC coast yesterday afternoon and persists today. A total rainfall amount of 100 to 150 mm is expected for Central Coast, and North and West Vancouver Island today.
The river systems have been responding to this storm last night and some of the river levels are now very high. Based on the forecast amount of rainfall and the current river conditions, the current hydrologic modelling indicates that the river systems in these regions are expected to continue to rise or to rise again. Some of the rivers are expected to peak at flows between the 5- and 10-year return periods tonight or on Saturday morning. Floods over the 20-year return period levels could also be possible for some of the smaller stream systems.
The public is advised to stay clear of the fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks during the high-river-level period.
The River Forecast Centre continues to monitor the conditions and provides updates as conditions warrant.
Contact for Media Relations, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development:
Tel: 250 356-7506
Wind and Rain warnings issued for West and East sides of the Island.
Now that the snow has stopped it is time to prepare for round two. It will be warmer, wetter and windier than Thursday’s events.
First wave of Rain and wind begins before sunrise.
Tonight’s UWash model has the rain stopping everywhere but the mountains this evening but rain will start again beginning on the West Coast around midnight.
It will spread over the inland sections of the Island by 4AM.
By 7AM, Inland sections will start to see heavy rain while the east side starts to catch up. The wind should kick up as well.
Given the early morning, some of this precipitation could also fall as snow so beware if you are driving early in the morning Friday.
Second wave after noon.
There should be a bit of a break from the rain by mid morning. It’s always hard to say exactly when and where the wind will rise and fall but expect it through the morning and into the afternoon.
The second wave of rain will begin by 1PM on the West Coast, 4PM on the inland, and 7PM everywhere else with the peak rain in the 4-7PM hours.
It will linger for a few hours into the night and then taper off before Saturday morning.
Rain totals
Above are the 24hr rain totals for the South Island between 4AM Friday/Saturday.
- Courtenay, Port Alberni and Lake Cowichan: up-to 60mm
- West Coast: up-to 60mm.
- Mountains: 120 or more.
- Nanaimo and South: up to 16mm
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