B.C. floods: Residents urged to prepare for 3rd storm, avoid non-essential travel
British Columbians are being urged to prepare and avoid non-essential travel over the next day as the province braces for the next atmospheric river.
B.C.'s public safety and transportation ministers gave the update during a briefing Tuesday on the ongoing flood situation in the province.
B.C. is bracing for its third atmospheric river in less than a week to arrive on Tuesday, delivering more heavy rain to communities that remain flooded from previous storms.
"There is uncertainty about this next storm as the forecast models do vary," Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said. "For now, what people should do is to get prepared. Being prepared makes a huge difference."
Farnworth urged residents to stay home if they can.
"The best approach is to avoid non-essential travel and wait out the weather," he said, adding that the province "is not in the clear yet."
In anticipation of worsening conditions, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming announced Highway 99 between Pemberton an Lillooet would close Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Highway 1 remains closed between Abbotsford and Chilliwack and between Popkum and Hope, meaning Highway 3 and Highway 7 will be the only major routes connecting the Lower Mainland and Interior after Highway 99 shuts down.
Even some routes that are open are subject to travel orders.
RAINFALL WARNING IN PLACE
Environment and Climate Change Canada's rainfall warning for the South Coast says as much as 120 millimetres of rain could fall near the North Shore. Other parts of Metro Vancouver could see up to 80 millimetres. Meanwhile, parts of Vancouver Island are forecast to see 100 to 150 millimetres.
ECCC's warning preparedness meteorologist Armel Castellan said this next atmospheric river will be a "very strong" event, and will continue through Wednesday.
Castellan said there hasn't been much of a break between the recent atmospheric rivers, meaning "the effects are cumulative."
David Campbell of the River Forecast Centre said Tuesday officials are watching conditions closely, adding there's a chance of "new flooding issues throughout the South Coast region." Campbell said the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound and Central Coast could be impacted.
The latest update came the day after Farnworth extended the province's state of emergency due to the ongoing flooding situation. He also extended the gas rationing order until Dec. 14.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
"It's a bit of a complicated pattern; we've got a lot going on," said Jennifer Smith of the Meteorological Service of Canada in an interview with CTVNews.ca on Wednesday. "[As is] typical with weather, all of these things are related."
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Police tangle with students in Texas and California as wave of campus protest against Gaza war grows
Police tangled with student demonstrators in Texas and California while new encampments sprouted Wednesday at Harvard and other colleges as school leaders sought ways to defuse a growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.