Rainfall warnings issued for Lower Mainland as B.C. communities brace for floods
Parts of the Lower Mainland could be drenched with up to 120 millimetres of rainfall by Sunday afternoon, according to new weather warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
That rainfall will be accompanied by snowmelt on the mountains that could increase the risk of flooding and potentially impact "vulnerable landscapes and infrastructure," the weather agency said early Saturday morning.
The heaviest rain is forecast to arrive Saturday night, as another front approaches B.C.'s South Coast. Environment Canada is expecting about 60 millimetres in Vancouver, 80 millimetres in the Fraser Valley and 100 millimetres or more closer to the mountains. Squamish could see as much as 120 millimetres, according to the forecast.
"Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible. Watch for possible washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts," Environment and Climate Change Canada said in a 4:23 a.m. warning.
The B.C. government announced Friday that it's proactively closing portions of several major highways Saturday over concerns about the coming storm.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said the closures will impact Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton, Highway 99 between Pemberton and Lillooet, and Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon.
The ministry did not initially confirm when the highways would be closed. On Saturday, it announced that Highways 1 and 3 would close at 2 p.m. and Highway 99 would close at 4 p.m.
Transportation Minister Rob Fleming urged British Columbians to avoid non-essential travel, noting an "increased risk of landslides" this weekend.
Last week's historic storm is estimated to have damaged or destroyed about 200 different points along the province's highways.
Communities that suffered severe flooding during that weather event have been bracing for this weekend's rainfall for days. Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun, whose city is already estimated to have sustained $1 billlion in damage, said officials "remain very concerned" despite the work that's been completed to keep its Barrowtown Pump Station operational.
The main portion of a dike that burst last week, sending water from the Sumas River gushing into Sumas Prairie, has been repaired, and crews are working to raise a further seven kilometres of dike along the river.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.