As more rain falls on southern British Columbia, an evacuation alert is issued

Key takeaways:

• A flood warning has been issued for the province’s South Coast by the B.C. River Forecast Centre.
• Flood warnings had already been issued for the Sumas River and Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford. 

As the first of three consecutive atmospheric rivers hit the province, the B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for the province’s South Coast, and a regional district in the Interior has issued an evacuation alert for multiple residences.

The flood warning covers much of the Lower Mainland, including those places still recovering from floods and landslides caused by the province’s most recent significant storm.

The Sumas River and Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford were already under a flood warning. The Fraser Valley, the North Shore mountains, Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, and the Sea-to-Sky region, including Squamish, Whistler, and Pemberton, are all under a flood warning.

Also read: A storm in southwestern Newfoundland delivered record-breaking rainfall

“Rivers are anticipated to surgeon Thursday as a result of the first rainfall event,” the forecast center said in a statement. “Highest flows (2 to 5 years) are expected around the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound, and North Shore corridor.”

According to the center, the current storm is projected to be “normal in magnitude” for fall storms in the Fraser Valley, but it could potentially stymie continuing flood recovery work.

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun told reporters earlier in the day Thursday that the city is “as ready as it can be” for the string of three atmospheric rivers approaching B.C.

“The second system, which is expected to arrive over the weekend, will almost certainly be more severe,” the river forecast center predicted. 

“Higher rainfall totals are expected, as well as warmer temperatures that will result in further snowmelt, and it will occur shortly following the current storm system. Flows have the potential to reach 10- to 50-year levels (or greater) — most likely on Sunday or Monday.”

Meanwhile, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an evacuation notice for properties southeast of Princeton, B.C., along the Similkameen River.

The following addresses are among those that are affected:

586 and 588 East Similkameen Rd. 407 Highway 3 561, 563, 556 and 520 Stevenson Creek Rd. 298, 426 and 438 Old Copper Mountain Rd.

The regional district’s website has a complete list of parcels that are affected.

Several residences in the town of Princeton have also been placed on evacuation notice. During last week’s hurricane, the town was one of the hardest hit. 

One survivor who assessed the damage this weekend told The Canadian Press that his home appeared to have been hit by a tsunami.

Source: CTV News

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