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
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
U.S. vetoes a widely supported UN resolution backing full membership for Palestine
The United States has vetoed a widely backed UN resolution that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for the state of Palestine.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.
N.L. gardening store revives 19th century seed-packing machine
Technology from the 19th century has been brought out of retirement at a Newfoundland gardening store, as staff look for all the help they can get to fill orders during a busy season.