Widespread rain, alpine snow for B.C. thanks to a parade of storms

British Columbia’s South Coast is finally getting some much-needed rainfall thanks to a parade of storms rolling through Western Canada.

The back-to-back storms will wash over B.C. throughout the week, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall and high-elevation snow across the province.

The latest system will make its way onshore during the overnight hours on Sunday for the coastal areas. This first round of active weather will bring between 20-40 mm of rain to the Lower Mainland through Monday.

Gusty southeasterly winds along the frontal system will peak pre-dawn Monday, with the potential to gust in excess of 60 kilometres per hour along the coastline.

A drop in freezing levels through Monday will also allow for additional alpine snow, which serves as a reminder that winter tires are required by law across most of B.C. from October 1 until April 30.

Impacts on drought-stricken regions

Folks across the South Coast and Vancouver Island recently jumped into Level 5 drought conditions, the worst category on the B.C. Government’s scale measuring the intensity of prolonged dryness across the province.

Due to an extremely active pattern forming across Western Canada, several rounds of moisture will be tracking onshore. Over the next seven days, some areas along the coast may receive over 75-100 mm of rain.

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While any amount of rain will certainly help the drought, too much of a good thing can have detrimental effects. Water doesn’t absorb into parched soil very well, so the impending round of storms—and their associated heavy rainfall—could lead to localized flooding concerns.

Check back frequently as we head into the weekend as our team continues to monitor the track of the storms as they approach British Columbia, and where the bulk of the heavy rain and snow will fall.

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