B.C. Residents Encouraged To Prepare For Stormy Weather, Heavy Rain

The province is encouraging people living on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley to be prepared for some stormy weather over the next week.

Environment Canada forecasts a series of storms culminating in a narrow band of heavy precipitation for the west coast of British Columbia.

Otherwise known as an atmospheric river, narrow bands of heavy precipitation such as this are common in British Columbia and many occur every year, most frequently in the fall and winter.

West Vancouver Island, Howe Sound, the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, and the Coast Mountains are forecast to receive heavy to very heavy rain on Monday into Tuesday during what is currently forecast as the peak of the storm.

While this upcoming wet and stormy weather is seasonally typical, the Province says it is prepared to take actions to keep people and communities safe in the event of flooding.

It says Emergency Management and Climate Readiness is working closely with communities on preparedness activities, including regular regional co-ordination calls with First Nations and communities - ready to deploy four million sandbags to local governments to protect homes and public infrastructure.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.