Nearly 80 millimetres of rain fell over the weekend in Port Alberni (78.9 millimetres, to be exact). The deluge adds to the approximately 400 millimetres of rain that has fallen since the storm cycle ramped up earlier this month, around Remembrance Day.
Day after day it’s rained heavily at Alberni Elementary. The weather sensor atop the school resets the rain gauge reading at midnight, so looking at this graph, you can really see how much rain has fallen each day.
Graph from the School-Based Weather Sensor Network.
Today – the playground at Sproat Lake looks more like a water park.
Hows this for perspective? We're floating on a playground. #SproatLake @CTVNewsVI @CTVNewsAndy #AlberniValley pic.twitter.com/d5cwa7FKco
— Jessica Lepp (@CTVNewsJess) November 27, 2017
The BC River Forecast Centre is maintaining a Flood Warning for the area today, as another 30-40 millimetres of rain is expected overnight.
In addition to tonight’s heavy rain, there’s more on the way. Port Alberni should experience a brief break Tuesday afternoon and evening, but showers increase to heavy rain throughout the day Wednesday. Heavy rain continues Wednesday night through Thursday morning, easing late Thursday. Scattered showers and periods of rain are expected through early Saturday.
Strong winds tonight
As the next system approaches tonight, winds will pick up. East Vancouver Island can expect the strongest southeasterly winds on the island overnight.
Gusts to 70 kilometres per hour are expected through exposed coastal sections of the Sunshine coast north of Earl’s Cove, an on the Island north of Fanny Bay. A wind warning has been issued for these areas. The strong winds should die down overnight or early Tuesday morning.
A break between systems
Wednesday looks to be more calm, weather-wise. As is the pattern, these breaks between systems don’t last long. Another one approaches the island late Wednesday through early Thursday. The weekend sees some improvement in some areas, but doesn’t fully dry out.
Rain at sea level; snow in the mountains
All these storms are great news for Mt. Washington which plans to open the Alpine Resort early for a “Preview Weekend” on Friday. With each passing front, heavy snow is expected.
