Wet winter weekend in store for Lower Mainland
It’s going to be a wet and wild weekend for Metro Vancouver, as another winter storm is set to wallop the region.
Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning and posted a special weather statement saying that winds of up to 90 kilometres an hour are expected in Metro Vancouver into Saturday.
The rainfall warning, issued early Friday morning, calls for heavy rain, with up to 50 millimetres expected to fall by Saturday. Vancouver Island will see even more, with up to 80 millimetres of rain over the same period.
Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and Howe Sound are expected to receive around 50 millimetres, while higher elevations may see more.
Strong, gusty winds were also expected across the region Friday night. The agency says the central and south coasts will be most affected, with winds possibly reaching 80 to 90 km/ h.
Environment Canada meteorologist David Jones said he expects a wind warning to be issued Saturday afternoon.
“We’ve got a rainfall warning in effect, but it’s no big deal — it’s 50 millimetres and we can handle that easily. But it’s the wind behind it that is going to be the factor. Really, it does look like the strongest winds will be offshore over the island, but there’s always the possibility that it will really pick up ( in the Lower Mainland),” said Jones.
He recommended people monitor weather forecasts for extended warnings. He called the weekend storm “significant, but not severe.”
Meanwhile, in Whistler it will be cold enough for snow instead of rain, with up to 15 centimetres expected by Saturday, the agency said.
Also, part of Highway 1 near Revelstoke has been shut down over avalanche concerns. Drive BC says the Trans- Canada Highway is closed in both directions three kilometres east of Craigellachie to nine kilometres west of Revelstoke while crews conduct avalanche control tests.