Wet weekend in store with up to 60 mm in forecast for capital

It looks like all those prayers and rain dances by drought-weary farmers, firefighters and gardeners have paid off, but this weekend’s weather could be a “be careful what you wish for” scenario for some.

Ten to 15 millimetres of rain fell on Victoria overnight Thursday, and as much 40 to 60 millimetres could fall before the weekend is over, said Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald.

Two jet streams, one from the north and the other from the south, are expected to bring up to 120 millimetres of rain to the rest of Vancouver Island, Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast.

Thursday night’s sneak preview was the precursor to “a big storm headed our way” — the remnants of Kilo, the tropical storm that brushed Hawaii this week, MacDonald said.

The double-whammy — the first significant rainfall in months — will push out the high-pressure system that has trapped wildfire smoke over southern B.C.

The good news is that the downpours are coming in fits and starts, MacDonald said.

“The sun even poked through [on Friday], so people were wondering what’s going on,” he said. “It’s a series of waves embedded in this sub-tropical moisture system.”

Breaks in the rain are expected again today, with a fourth wave hitting Sunday and tapering off to showers.

The amount of rain forecast for the weekend is nearly four times the amount of precipitation that has fallen in Victoria over past three months — about 16 millimetres.

“Victoria was on track to break the record for the driest summer going back to 1940, but this rain falling during the last few days in August is going to squash that,” MacDonald said.

The region is still on track to break the record temperaturewise, however.

“It’s the warmest summer in 75 years,” said MacDonald, noting the mean temperature this summer is 18.2 C, while the normal is 16.8 C.

While such torrential downpours are tough on soil so drought-hardened it barely has a chance to absorb it, MacDonald said the fact the rain is expected to be spaced out could lessen the impact somewhat.

“It’s way better than having it all falling at once,” he said.

Still, heavy rainfall poses a risk of flash-floods in areas with drainage issues.

It can also have a negative impact on water quality, since a lot of pollutants and contaminants that have built up on parched soil surfaces will be flushed into rivers and out to sea, MacDonald said.

B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is also reminding motorists that because of the long dry period, road surfaces can become slippery and cause poor driving conditions.

Drivers are being encouraged to allow extra time to reach destinations, prepare for changing road conditions, reduce speeds when roads are wet and use extra caution overall.

The City of Victoria issued a list of “storm-proofing” tips to help residents weather the latesummer storm.

It suggests homeowners clear clutter from gutters, make sure sump pumps are in working order and clear debris away from catch basins, which allow rain to flow into the stormwater system and away from properties.

Anyone who sees evidence of flooding or water pooling on streets is encouraged to report it by calling 250-361-0400. The number for after-hours emergencies 250-385-5711.

For more information, go to victoria.ca/stormwater.

The public is advised to monitor future forecasts and warnings from Environment Canada at weather.gc.ca.