Avalanche danger 'high' on Vancouver Island as rain warnings and flood watches remain active
Heavy rainfall will continue to batter regions of Vancouver Island on Tuesday, increasing the risk of small avalanches in some areas, according to Avalanche Canada.
Rainfall warnings are in effect for North Vancouver Island and West Vancouver Island, where 100 to 150 millimetres of rain is expected to fall on Tuesday and Wednesday.
According to Environment Canada, rainfall will be especially noticeable on the island's west coast moving north from Tofino, including the communities of Zeballos and Tahsis.
"This is the third of three potent atmospheric rivers to arrive on our coast in a week," said Environment Canada meteorologist, Armel Castellan, at a live update Tuesday morning.
"It will continue overnight into tomorrow evening. There will be some lulls but we do expect some high (totals), 100 millimetres in Bella Coola – 150, even, on the west coast of Vancouver Island," he said.
On Tuesday morning, crews worked to clear a landslide near Port Hardy on the north end of the island.
The landslide was located on Holberg Road and was mostly cleared by 11 a.m., with traffic flowing through the area.
The landslide on Holberg Road near Port Hardy, B.C. is shown: Nov. 30, 2021 (Ministry of Transportation)
AVALANCHE DANGER RATINGS
The heavy rainfall Tuesday, combined with fresh snowfall on Monday, has led to dangerous avalanche conditions on Vancouver Island, according to Avalanche Canada.
In alpine regions, the avalanche danger rating is considered high. At treeline levels the danger rating is considerable, and at below-treeline levels the danger rating is moderate.
"New snow followed by a deluge of rain will breathe new life into wet loose avalanche problems on Tuesday," reads an update from Avalanche Canada on Monday.
"The more new snow has accumulated before the transition to rain occurs, the greater the danger will be."
FLOOD WATCHES
Castellan says that water levels will be impacted by both rain and snow runoff on Tuesday.
"Snowmelt is also a component of this event and will add to the rain totals in creeks and rivers," he said.
Flood watches are in effect for all of Vancouver Island, meaning river levels could meet or exceed their banks.
During flood watches, "flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur," according to the B.C. River Forecast Centre.
Environment Canada estimates that rainfall should ease Thursday before a smaller system returns to the coast Friday evening.
"We will be keeping a close eye on the barrage of storms (headed to B.C.)," said Castellan.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
For years she thought her son had died of an overdose. The police video changed all that
Austin Hunter Turner died in 2017, on a night that his mother has rewound and replayed again and again, trying to make sense of what happened.
Niagara Region 'proactively' declares state of emergency ahead of total solar eclipse
Niagara Region says it has declared a state of emergency 'out of an abundance of caution' as it prepares for an influx of visitors for next month’s total solar eclipse.
Social media can alter children's brains and impact mental health: neuroscientist
Neuroscientist Emma Duerden says social media can alter children's brains and have negative impacts on their mental health.
Ontario homeowner on the hook for $27,000 when contractor severed power line
An Ontario man who built a garage on his property has been locked in a battle with his electricity provider for a year and half over a severed power line.
Edmonton broadcasting giant Bruce Hogle dead at 95
An Edmonton broadcasting pioneer has passed away.
Montreal doctors' breakthrough discovery about causes of cerebral palsy giving hope
A breakthrough discovery made by doctors at the Montreal Children's Hospital about the causes of cerebral palsy is giving new hope to one West Island family.
Feeling older than you are? It could be how you sleep
Not getting enough sleep may cause you to feel five to 10 years older than you really are, according to two new studies.
A Filipino villager is nailed to a cross for the 35th time on Good Friday to pray for world peace
A Filipino villager has been nailed to a wooden cross for the 35th time to reenact Jesus Christ’s suffering in a brutal Good Friday tradition he said he would devote to pray for peace in Ukraine, Gaza and the disputed South China Sea.
Sixth suspect charged in double homicide of Bowmanville, Ont. man, pregnant wife
A sixth suspect has been arrested in connection with the murder of a 28-year-old man and his pregnant wife in Bowmanville, Ont., police confirmed Friday.