Orange-level rainfall warnings issued as 3rd storm heads for B.C. Coast - Global News

Environment Canada has now issued orange-level rainfall warnings for the Sea to Sky area, Howe Sound and west and inland Vancouver Island.

An orange-level warning means the severe weather is likely to cause widespread damage and disruption.

Environment Canada says from Tuesday morning through overnight Wednesday, the areas above could receive between 150 millimetres and 200 millimetres of rain, with some areas seeing up to 250 millimetres.

The “very robust frontal system” is set to make landfall on Vancouver Island very early Tuesday morning and persist until Wednesday morning, according to the organization.

Even though the heaviest rain eases by Wednesday morning, moderate precipitation is expected to continue until Thursday morning.

Localized flooding is likely and drivers and pedestrians are urged to take care. People are urged to stay away from riverbanks and streams. Landslides could also occur in vulnerable areas.

Global BC meteorologist Mark Madryga said a series of Pacific storms will move through the B.C. coast this week, bringing a prolonged period of heavy rainfall along with strong, gusty winds at times.

This rainfall event comes on the heels of several low-pressure systems that have moved through the region in recent days, already bringing substantial amounts of precipitation to parts of the coast, Madryga said.

With further moisture arriving over the remainder of the week on the B.C. coast, total rainfall predicted from Monday to Friday will be significant, Madryga added.

With the very mild flow from the subtropics, the freezing level will rise to 2,000 metres on the South Coast on Monday afternoon and to almost 3,000 metres on Tuesday afternoon.

A high streamflow advisory is in effect for the South and Central Coasts, issued by the BC River Forecast Centre.