Rainfall warnings lifted on B.C.'s South Coast

Rainfall warnings are no longer in effect B.C.'s South Coast Sunday, after the region was hit by an atmospheric river that wreaked havoc over the election day weekend.

Flood warnings in Coquitlam and on the west coast of Vancouver Island were also downgraded to watches.

Preliminary rainfall totals in the Lower Mainland ranged from 87 millimetres in Hope to as much as 228 millimetres in parts of Coquitlam as of 5 a.m. Sunday, according to ECCC data.

The weather agency showed 106 millimetres of precipitation at Vancouver International Airport, 150 in Vancouver Harbour and 177 in West Vancouver, where the downpour turned 21st Street into a raging river for part of the day Saturday.

• Read more: Metro Vancouver hit with massive flooding, road closures on the day of B.C. provincial election

The Tri-Cities were also hard hit, with the Coquitlam River overflowing its banks Saturday, prompting a flood warning from the B.C. River Forecast Centre. 

Coquitlam Search and Rescue responded to Mount Burke Saturday afternoon to rescue three hikers stranded by overflowing rivers, documenting their highline rescue on social media.

Shortly before 9 p.m., the team said all three hikers had been rescued.

Searchers were still working on Sunday to find the owner of a home that was swept away in a mudslide on Quarry Road in Coquitlam Saturday.

• Read more: Search underway for missing person in Coquitlam after home destroyed by mudslide

On Vancouver Island, Environment Canada says further rainfall totals of 30 to 40 millimetres are possible on Sunday.

As of Sunday morning, Tofino had already seen 213 millimetres of precipitation from the storm, while Kennedy Lake had seen a whopping 301 millimetres.

Whether on the island or the mainland, the weather agency warns the public to be prepared for localized flooding, water pooling on roads, swollen rivers and creeks and an increased risk of washouts and rock slides.