The rainfall warnings begin…. a timeline of the incoming atmospheric river.

In a rare occurence, Environment Canada is issuing rainfall warnings for Inland (Port Alberni, Gold River) Vancouver Island as well as other areas.

Here is the warning text, it also mentions the S word!

Issued at 2018-01-28 00:01 UTC by Environment Canada:
Rainfall warning issued for:
West Vancouver Island, B.C. (081400)
Inland Vancouver Island, B.C. (081500)
Current details:
Rain, at times heavy, is expected.

A moisture-laden frontal system will move across Vancouver Island tonight and Sunday bringing heavy rain.

Rain will begin overnight and intensify during the day on Sunday with rainfall totals near 100 millimetres by Monday morning.

Early on Sunday morning, higher elevations such as the Port Alberni Summit on Highway 4 may see accumulating snow before the warm front move across and snow changes to rain later Sunday morning.

Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Be prepared for possible winter conditions at higher elevations.

Timeline Starts Early Sunday Morning

Rain begins across the Island in the 1-4AM period Sunday morning.  If the temperature stays in the 3-4°C range, expect this to start as sleet or snow at higher elevatoons, or to switch from rain to snow as the precipitation rate picks up and drags down the temperature.

Things intensify in the 7-10AM period on the West Coast.

They intensify further on the West Coast with 30-60mm falling in multiple 3hr periods on Sunday afternoon throuh evening especially in the Kennedy Lake area.

It is less extreme in Port Alberni but we are still expected to get more than enough rain to be quite unpleasant!

The model is predicting up to 60mm in Port Alberni (pink) but up to 120mm in higher regions all by 4AM Monday.

Rain will reach into Monday morning but will taper to showes Monday afternoon and then re-intensify a little Monday night.

Never a dull moment.

Stay dry. Stay away from the rivers as they are expected to rise rapidly especially with the freezing level rising rapidly adding snow melt to the rainfall.

 

About The Author