Flood emergencies cancelled after deluge
B.C. River Forecast Centre downgraded flood watches Tuesday. High streamflow advisories replaced earlier warnings. The Englishman River flood warning near Parksville expired.
An atmospheric river pounded Vancouver Island relentlessly. Almost 300 millimetres of rain on Vancouver Island in three-day drenching saturated forests and fields completely.
Nanaimo Regional District lifted evacuation orders Monday. Chemainus Bridge alerts also ended. Rivers recede while roads slowly drain.
Kennedy Lake breaks rainfall records
Environment Canada recorded 286 millimetres at Kennedy Lake Forestry Station. The three-day total ran from Saturday through Monday. Port Mellon on the mainland saw 204 millimetres.
Twenty weather stations reported over 100 millimetres each. Ucluelet gauge hit 168 millimetres. Squamish recorded 132 millimetres in the Lower Mainland.
These totals rival monthly rainfall averages easily. Almost 300 millimetres of rain on Vancouver Island in three-day drenching overwhelmed local drainage systems.
Island evacuations gripped communities
Monday brought urgent evacuation orders across Vancouver Island. Nanaimo Regional District moved families from low-lying homes. Chemainus Bridge became temporarily impassable.
Emergency crews distributed sandbags rapidly. Power flickered across soaked regions. Almost 300 millimetres of rain on Vancouver Island in three-day drenching tested readiness severely.
No major injuries emerged despite widespread chaos. Provincial teams coordinated multi-community responses. Cleanup crews assess damage now.
River monitors watch rising flows
High streamflow advisories remain active Tuesday. Hydrologists track river crests carefully. Snowmelt could complicate spring conditions further.
Communities count costs after record rainfall. Almost 300 millimetres of rain on Vancouver Island in three-day drenching washed out secondary roads.
Basement pumps run continuously. Insurance adjusters schedule visits soon. Recovery begins under improving weather forecasts.
Mainland spared Island’s worst wrath
Metro Vancouver avoided catastrophic flooding. Squamish still absorbed 132 millimetres. Port Mellon topped mainland rainfall totals.
Urban stormwater systems coped adequately. No Lower Mainland evacuation orders issued. Almost 300 millimetres of rain on Vancouver Island in three-day drenching stayed island-focused.
Squamish rivers rose but held banks. The atmospheric river targeted coastal mountains primarily. Relief spreads across soaked regions.
Drier days aid recovery efforts
Environment Canada predicts clearing skies ahead. River levels should fall steadily through workweek. High streamflow advisories persist cautiously.
Vancouver Island tallies infrastructure losses. Almost 300 millimetres of rain on Vancouver Island in three-day drenching marked atmospheric river severity.
Lessons learned shape future preparedness. Emergency plans face regular testing now. Soaked communities rebuild stronger than before.
