As atmospheric rivers reach landfall in B.C., a ‘parade of storms’ is expected

Key takeaways:

• According to Environment Canada, a “parade of storms” is forecast to hit B.C. in the coming days.
• This comes on top of the 200 percent above-average precipitation we’ve already witnessed in many sections of the province this autumn.

According to Environment Canada, a “parade of storms” is expected to make landfall over B.C. in the coming days, bringing heavy rain to many regions of the province.

Climate Change and the Environment Armel Castellan, Canada’s warning readiness meteorologist, said Monday that while rain is required over the next several days, the next major storm is expected on Thursday.

“The forecast going ahead for the South Coast is very wet,” Castellan said.

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He predicted that five to ten millimeters of rain would fall Monday and Tuesday, followed by a brief respite.

On the other hand, Thursday’s system will be another “atmospheric river,” he said, adding that it will draw moisture and heat from the subtropics.

“It’ll push freezing levels up to possibly 2,500 meters, which is quite high,” Castellan warned. “With this moisture, there would be some snowmelt.” 

On the Fraser Valley, we’re talking about 40 to 70 millimeters, with up to 100 millimeters possible in the North Shore Mountains near Howe Sound. 

Please keep in mind that these are not insignificant sums and that they are likely to exacerbate the current vulnerabilities.”

After that, there will be a break in the weather, but another system is expected to blow through on Saturday afternoon.

According to Castellan, it will be another atmospheric river, and while it will not provide as moisture as last week’s system, it will be a more active storm.

The biggest issue is that we are about to enter another period of storms, with little respite in sight. This comes on top of the 200 percent above-average precipitation we’ve already witnessed in many sections of the province this autumn.

“We’re ready for what will almost certainly be a record-breaking decline,” Castellan added.

“We typically witness 20 to 30 atmospheric rivers per year from October until March, but this has been an especially exceptional fall to date.”

Snow, according to Global BC meteorologist Mark Madryga, is also a concern for Monday morning.

Another 25 to 30 cm of snow is forecast for the mountains along the Coquihalla. With freezing levels expected to rise to 2,500 meters again on Thursday and then again over the weekend, heavy rain on this snow is a worry, as much of it will melt.

For the North Coast region, the B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued a flood warning.

Source: Global News

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