UPGRADED: Flood Watch – Central Coast (NEW), Vancouver Island North (NEW) South, East, West, Central
MAINTAINED - High Streamflow Advisory – North Coast
ISSUED: 7:30 AM November 29, 2021
The River Forecast Centre is maintaining or upgrading to a Flood Watch for:
- Central Coast including areas around Bella Coola, Wuikinuxv, Kingcome and surrounding tributaries (UPGRADED)
- Northern Vancouver Island (UPGRADED)
- Central Vancouver Island
- Eastern Vancouver Island
- Southern Vancouver Island
- Western Vancouver Island
The River Forecast Centre is maintaining a High Streamflow Advisory:
- North Coast including areas around Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Hartley Bay, Kemano and surrounding tributaries
The third in a series of atmospheric rivers is expected to impact Coastal British Columbia beginning Monday evening. This is forecast to bring a prolonged period of heavy rainfall across the region through Wednesday. Environment and Climate Change Canada are warning of 100-200 mm of rain for exposed areas on Vancouver Island and the Central Coast; 80-120 mm for inland areas of Central Coast, including the Bella Coola valley, and 50-100 mm for the south coast. Temperatures are expected to warm through this event and will lead to additional runoff from snowmelt at low and mid elevations
Rivers are expected to experience a brief period of easing river levels on Monday prior to the onset of this next round of rainfall. River levels are expected to see rapid rises on Tuesday and through Wednesday. Current weather forecasts and river forecasts are indicating that significant flood risks will be present over the Tuesday and Wednesday period from this atmospheric river, particularly in the Central Coast and Northern Vancouver Island, including the Bella Coola River and tributaries (Nuxalk), Wannock River (Wuikinuxv) and Kingcome River (Dzawada’enuxv). Flood risks will also persist on Vancouver Island, including regions of northern and western Vancouver Island that are expected to experience heaviest rainfall rates, and on central, eastern and southern Vancouver Island where high flow conditions persist from the weekend’s atmospheric river.
The public is advised to stay clear of the fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks during the high-streamflow period.
Details of the COFFEE and CLEVER Model forecasts can be found at:
http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/fallfloods/map_coffee.html, and
http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/freshet/map_clever.html
The River Forecast Centre continues to monitor the conditions and will provide updates as conditions warrant.
BC River Forecast Centre
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
A High Streamflow Advisory means that river levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly, but that no major flooding is expected. Minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible.
A Flood Watch means that river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull. Flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur.
A Flood Warning means that river levels have exceeded bankfull or will exceed bankfull imminently, and that flooding of areas adjacent to the rivers affected will result.