More stormy weather forecast for B.C. with warnings for flooding, heavy rain, fog

Flood watches and warnings, rainfall warnings and fog advisories are in effect for much of B.C. as a series of storms moves through the province.

The entire South Coast, including Vancouver Island, is under a flood watch or warning on Friday morning. Areas of particular concern include the North Shore-Sea-to-Sky and Lower Fraser regions, as well as the Kingcome River area on the Central Coast, following a long period of heavy rain earlier this week.

B.C.’s River Forecast Centre says water levels in those areas have or will exceed river banks and cause flooding.

Residents in the Pemberton Valley have been advised to evacuate or shelter in place, depending on where they are. On Thursday, the Líl̓wat Nation said sections of Lillooet Lake Road had six inches to one foot of water flowing over it.

An aerial view of Highway 99 and flooding on the Lillooet River in the Pemberton area on Thursday afternoon. (David Ward)

The province issued a warning Tuesday for drivers travelling on the Malahat Highway, Highway 99 and Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley, saying those areas were most likely to be impacted by storm systems this week. It advised travellers to check DriveBC before heading out on those routes.

The warnings come as B.C. marks five years since heavy rains soaked the southern half of the province, washing out critical transportation routes, flooding homes and farmland and leaving several people dead.

Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon said the 2021 floods were one of many severe weather events that led to the weather agency’s colour-coded forecasting system that is uses today.

WATCH | 5 years on, Merritt residents still recovering from 2021 floods:

Merritt residents still recovering 5 years after catastrophic flooding

Rain on Vancouver Island

Rainfall warnings remain in effect for much of Vancouver Island on Friday. Anywhere from 50 to 100 millimetres is forecast for the north, west and inland areas of the Island according to Environment Canada, though 120 millimetres could fall in some local areas.

Areas including Gold River, Tahsis and Zeballos, the latter of which was evacuated last week due to landslide, will likely get the most rain, Environment Canada says.

The downpour is expected to ease Friday afternoon, but the weather agency warns more rain is on the way this weekend.

Interior fog advisories

Meanwhile, fog advisories have been issued for the Cariboo, East Kootenay, Similkameen and South Okanagan regions on Friday. Environment Canada says dense fog is creating “near-zero visibility” in some areas.

It adds that travel in dense fog can become hazardous, and is warning drivers of dangerous road conditions.

The fog is expected to lift late Friday morning, according to Environment Canada.