After some needed time away from the weather spotlight, B.C. will be the focal point of an atmospheric river targeting the province’s coastal regions.
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Rated AR4, this weekend’s atmospheric river will wallop parts of the province that are still trying to dry out from heavy rains over the past month.
With the ground already so saturated from recent heavy rains, ponding on roadways and low-lying areas can be expected. As with any heavy rainfall event as well, localized flooding is a risk to be on the lookout for.
Luckily, folks in the Interior will be shielded from the rain by a ridge of high pressure of the region.
After already receiving 500-700 mm of rain since mid-September, the Bella Bella area, as well as Prince Rupert, will be in for another 100-150 mm of rainfall over the weekend. A cold front associated with the low-ppressure system to the north will drag in the rain, at times heavy, Saturday and Sunday.
Blustery winds will also add to the problematic nature of this atmospheric river, with the wind being funnelled between Haida Gwaii and the Central Coast. Gusts will be between 60-90 km/h Saturday morning, diminishing only slightly later in the afternoon.
Be prepared for travel disruptions if you are heading north for the weekend, as roads could become slick from the rain, and keep an eye on local alerts.
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The gusting winds in combination with heavy rains could also result in localized power outages on Saturday.
The plume of tropical moisture will sink to the south on Sunday, bringing the potent rain to B.C.’s coastal mountains and west Vancouver Island.
Tofino will likely see 50-75 mm of rain, while the region between Tofino and Port Hardy could see 75-100 mm of rainfall by Monday. The rainfall will be heaviest throughout Sunday afternoon before the system sinks farther south again to bring showers to the Lower Mainland on Monday.
Behind this system, temperatures will begin to drop early next week to the low teens.
Stay with The Weather Network for more forecast information and updates on your weather across B.C.
Thumbnail courtesy of Unsplash.
