B.C. coast to get first soaking of the season as atmospheric river rolls in
Global News
The season's first atmospheric river is expected to hit B.C.'s coast Wednesday and persist through to Halloween.
Provincial officials are urging British Columbians to prepare for the first serious brush with stormy weather this week, marking the end of an unusually warm and dry early fall.
In a media release Tuesday, the Ministry of Public Safety and Emergency Management BC pointed to the season’s first atmospheric river, due to hit the north coast on Wednesday and Lower Mainland on Thursday.
“This type of seasonal storm is typical for the region and is not unusual for this time of year,” the release states.
“Narrow bands of heavy precipitation such as this are common in British Columbia and many occur every year, most commonly in the fall and early winter.”
Senior Global BC meteorologist Kristi Gordon said the North and Central Coast regions could see upwards of 80 mm of rain and winds gusting up to 100 km/h.
The South Coast should also expect strong winds and potentially heavier rainfall than what it experienced on Tuesday, she said.
No special weather statements or weather warnings have yet been issued in connection with the system.
While atmospheric rivers are a normal weather phenomenon, they have drawn increased scrutiny from B.C. emergency officials and meteorologists in the wake of the catastrophic floods and mudslides triggered by a series of such systems last November.
