Heavy rain and snow hit B.C. north coast, Terrace

Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for British Columbia’s North Coast, where as much as 120 millimetres of rain is expected, along with snowfall warnings for the Terrace area and the Bulkley Valley.

The agency said Monday that near 120 mm of rain is forecast for coastal sections south of Prince Rupert, while 60 to 80 mm is expected between Kitimat and Terrace. The rain is forecast to continue until early Tuesday morning, when the system is expected to weaken and rainfall to taper off.

Snowfall warnings were also in effect for the Bulkley Valley, the North Coast inland near Terrace and Stewart, Highway 16 between Smithers and Terrace, and Highway 113. Environment Canada said 10 to 15 centimetres of snow was expected, with snow possibly mixing with rain near midday. It said conditions should warm enough for a change to rain by early afternoon.

Travel will likely be challenging and visibility reduced at times, the agency said, and drivers should allow extra time. Water will likely pool on roads and in low-lying areas, and people should watch for washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts.

Current road conditions are posted on DriveBC, and the full list of alerts is on the Environment Canada website.

The storm follows a wet stretch on the coast. Last week we reported on a rainfall warning for east Vancouver Island, and earlier on snow squalls on B.C. Interior highways.

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