Vancouver: Heavy rain and strong winds continue to batter the western coast of British Columbia (B.C.), with meteorologists warning that some areas could receive over 250 millimeters of rainfall by Thursday. In response, Environment Canada has issued Orange Alerts for parts of Vancouver Island, Howe Sound, and the Sea to Sky Corridor.
The fresh wave of severe weather arrives as the region is still recovering from damages caused by a storm over the past weekend. Recent torrential rains and high winds knocked out power for more than 400,000 B.C. Hydro customers and triggered widespread evacuations. Two weather-related fatalities have also been reported: a woman died in Surrey when a tree fell onto her car, and a 78-year-old woman was struck by a vehicle during heavy rainfall in Vancouver.
Flood warnings remain active across most of southwestern B.C., including Vancouver Island, Howe Sound, the Sea to Sky region, parts of Metro Vancouver, and the Northern Fraser Valley. In the village of Zeballos on the northwestern coast of Vancouver Island, a landslide prompted the evacuation of around 30 homes.
The sudden deluge following a dry autumn has led to flash flooding and rapidly rising river levels. Authorities warn that saturated soil increases the risk of uprooted trees and mudslides. Weather forecasts indicate that additional storms may hit the region by the end of the week.
