Coastal flooding possible in Vancouver and Victoria

Environment Canada has issued coastal flooding statements for Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria, warning that storm surge and high tides could push water above the highest astronomical tide Friday and potentially into the weekend.

The statements cover the coastline of Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver and Musqueam First Nation, Boundary Bay and Semiahmoo Bay, the shoreline of the Strait of Georgia including Tsawwassen, and Greater Victoria from Swartz Bay to East Sooke, Saanich Inlet and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Peak water levels are expected between 10 a.m. and noon local time, the weather agency said. A series of Pacific low-pressure systems will cross the region through the weekend at the same time as high tides, and east to southeasterly winds gusting to 60 to 80 km/h are expected over exposed coastal sections at times. Winds and waves could add to the flooding risk in some areas.

On Vancouver Island, Environment Canada has rainfall warnings in place for the north, west and inland parts of the island. It said 50 to 100 mm of rain is expected through Friday afternoon, with locally more than 120 mm possible near Zeballos and Tahsis and over the northern inland island, including Gold River. Near Port Alice, amounts are expected to be among the highest on North Vancouver Island.

A wind warning is also in effect for exposed sections of West Vancouver Island, where southeast winds of 80 km/h gusting to 100 were forecast early Friday before easing later in the morning. The agency said local utility outages and travel disruptions are possible, and it warned of washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts and possible landslides on steep slopes, deforested areas and recent burn scars.

Environment Canada said another weather system will bring more rain to the island this weekend.

The latest storm follows flooding earlier this week. Residents of Pemberton were told to shelter in place Thursday as Highway 99 closed near Mount Currie, and forecasters had earlier called for up to 250 mm of rain in parts of the province.

People can check current alerts on the Environment Canada website and report severe weather to [email protected] or on social media with #BCStorm.

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