Winds, rain deal Island a blow
Outages likely; snow falls on Malahat, around Nanaimo, Duncan, Lake Cowichan
A Pacific storm hitting the B.C. coast is expected to continue today, bringing up to 150 millimetres of rain to parts of Vancouver Island.
Environment Canada posted special weather statements for all of the Island and much of central and southern B.C. on Thursday, while B.C. Hydro said it was bracing for electrical outages caused by high winds.
Rainfall warnings were in place for the north, east and west Island.
Between 100 and 150 millimetres of rain is expected on west Vancouver Island and near Port Alice on the north Island.
Up to 50 mm could fall on the Island’s east coast.
Environment Canada warned of possible flooding in low-lying areas and washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.
Heavy rain hit Vancouver Island late Thursday morning, with strong southeasterly winds developing in the afternoon.
Higher elevations received some snow, but evening warm air was expected to change all precipitation to rain.
The highway webcam at Sutton Pass, on Highway 4 between Port Alberni-Tofino/Ucluelet, was showing late-morning snow accumulation, and Drive B.C. was warning of slippery conditions on the entire Port AlberniTofino/Ucluelet
stretch.
Snow also fell on the Malahat and around Nanaimo, Duncan and Lake Cowichan.
The storm was expected to intensify as it carried snow and rain across the province.
As much as 90 mm of rain was forecast over Howe Sound and Metro Vancouver, along with a chance of wet snow. The central and southern Interior were expected to get snow Thursday evening, but freezing rain could hit the central Interior as the storm pushes northward today.
The weather office said north central B.C., from Terrace and Kitimat east to the Alberta boundary, could see 20 to 30 centimetres of snow
B.C. Hydro said it had restored power to most of the roughly 160,000 central and southern Interior customers who lost power in a New Year’s Eve snowstorm, but several thousand are still in the dark around Kamloops, Vernon, Salmon Arm and Nakusp.
A statement from the utility said it was preparing for possible damage from high winds linked to the storm set to hammer the south coast and Vancouver Island. Customers in those areas are encouraged to prepare for potential outages, the statement said.
High winds also prompted Parks Canada to issue a wavehazard advisory for beaches, shorelines and coastal waters in and around Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
It warned of wave surges, strong currents and shoreline flooding, and urged visitor to avoid activities in the water.
In Victoria, the Emergency Weather Protocol was activated, making extra beds available at local shelters.