Flood watches lifted in B.C., but Environment Canada forecasts more rain
No weather warnings were posted across British Columbia for the first time in weeks, and flood watches on the South Coast have been lifted, but Environment Canada says more heavy rain is on the way.
The River Forecast Centre downgraded a flood watch in the Fraser Valley to a high streamflow advisory before noon Wednesday and ended all other watches and advisories covering waterways on Vancouver Island and the inner south coast.
A statement from the centre said river levels in most areas had peaked and were receding, although it said the Sumas River through the Fraser Valley remained elevated due to slower drainage and could see small additional rises before conditions ease Thursday.
Communities around the Georgia Strait were also keeping a close eye on sea levels as more exceptionally high tides were due Thursday and Friday.
Vancouver recorded a high tide of 4.9 metres by mid-morning Wednesday, slightly lower than Tuesday's five-metre tide, and although some seaside walkways were briefly flooded, the city reported no damage for a second day.
In eastern B.C., recent snowstorms followed by warming temperatures prompted Avalanche Canada to issue a special warning about a potential for avalanches over the next five days within a huge swath of backcountry from north of Prince George, south almost to Castlegar and Kimberley.
“The storm cycles that hit Western Canada over the past weekend added significant snow on top of an exceptionally weak lower snowpack,” said a statement from Avalanche Canada.
“This has brought the conditions to a tipping point where dangerous avalanches are likely,” the statement said.
Even if conditions improve, the agency noted the risk of an avalanche would remain, and it urged backcountry users to stay off steep slopes until at least Jan. 2.
Elsewhere, avalanche conditions were ranked as “high” in parts of southeastern B.C., where Avalanche Canada said recent heavy snow on a weak snowpack had raised the risk to “very dangerous.”
Human-triggered avalanches were “very likely,” it said, while conditions on coastal mountains, Vancouver Island, sections of the Okanagan, Shuswap and northwestern B.C. were rated as “considerable,” with backcountry users urged to carefully evaluate their routes.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.