Strong winds forecast for B.C. coast before more rain moves in

Strong Winds and Rain Forecasted for British Columbia's Coastal Areas

This weekend, coastal regions of British Columbia are expected to experience strong winds that could lead to damage and power outages, followed by another period of rain.

Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for areas including eastern Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria, and parts of Metro Vancouver, predicting gusts of up to 90 km/h early Saturday, particularly in exposed coastal locations.

"A frontal system will move across the South Coast tonight, bringing a period of brief but strong gusty winds to the region," the agency stated in its warning for the coastal parts of Metro Vancouver.

In Haida Gwaii, southeasterly winds are forecasted to reach 90 km/h, with gusts up to 110 km/h arriving Friday evening.

"Damage to buildings, such as roof shingles and windows, may occur," the wind warning for Haida Gwaii noted. "Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. High winds may displace loose items or cause tree branches to break."

Rain on the Horizon

These winds will usher in another round of wet weather for the B.C. coast, following last weekend's atmospheric river event, which resulted in localized flooding, mudslides, and washouts that claimed at least three lives.

Over the course of three days last weekend, North Vancouver received approximately 350 millimeters of rain. However, Environment Canada meteorologist Ken Dosanjh indicated that the rainfall expected this weekend would be "nothing" compared to the previous storm, arriving in a series of "pulses."

He mentioned that North Vancouver might see up to 75 millimeters of rain in the coming days, but it will fall over several days and at a lower intensity than last weekend's deluge.

"With the atmospheric river, we saw precipitation rates around 10, even upwards of 20 millimeters an hour, which is extremely high," Dosanjh explained to The Canadian Press on Thursday. "In this case, we're expecting precipitation rates to range from four to eight millimeters per hour, possibly reaching 10 in extreme instances."

Evacuation Order Lifted

The District of North Vancouver has rescinded an evacuation order for six properties in the Deep Cove area, which had been in effect since Sunday morning.

The district reported that crews have completed remediation efforts addressing hazards caused by last weekend's heavy rainfall, including restoring creek flow and drainage in the area.

Mayor Mike Little stated that teams had been working throughout the week to clear drainage basins in anticipation of more rain.

"We've been out scooping up the rock and debris that came down the creeks and rivers onto the streets across the district," he said Thursday.

Little expressed confidence that the district's systems would manage the forecasted rainfall, although he noted that some areas remain "vulnerable to a moderate amount of rainfall" following the recent heavy downpours.

He mentioned that rocks have been falling into creeks in North Vancouver's Woodlands area since last weekend, indicating a need for channel clearance.

Little, whose basement was also flooded, acknowledged that some homes in the district are "seriously damaged" and that recovery for residents will take time.