Flooding rains prompt evacuations, shelter-in-place alerts in B.C.
A series of atmospheric rivers battering the West Coast has prompted a series of alerts and closures as the threat of flooding and landslides rises.
The fall storm season in British Columbia has started on a severe note, as multiple strong atmospheric river events continue to batter the province heading into the middle of November.
The impacts are already beginning to mount for many residents across the province, and there seems to be no end in sight.
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On Friday, Nov. 6, heavy rains resulted in a landslide near the village of Zeballos on Vancouver Island, which prompted an evacuation order for about 22 properties. The village which has a population of about 125, declared a local state of emergency following the landslide.
Winds also picked up that weekend, causing widespread tree damage and power outages across the central interior, including Prince George, and South Coast. At the peak of this event, over 135,000 customers lost power, according to BC Hydro. Some had to wait multiple days before power could be restored.
At least one fatality has been confirmed from the storms, as a tree fell on a vehicle due to the high winds.
Now, heading into the second weekend of November, the rain is forecast to once again bring more impacts to the soaked province, as another strong atmospheric river flows over.
The province issued a traffic advisory across the South Coast earlier in the week, warning drivers to monitor conditions and of the potential for short-notice road closures.
"Areas expected to be most affected by the storm include: Highway 99 through the Sea to Sky corridor and Pemberton Valley; Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley and the Fraser Canyon; the Malahat and western coast communities on Vancouver Island," the Ministry of Transportation and Transit wrote in a media release.
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Local and provincial authorities have also been issuing flood watches and warnings all week, as well as several evacuation orders and alerts.
Due to an immediate danger to life and safety caused by flooding, the Village of Pemberton issued an evacuation order for some properties on Wednesday, while others remain under an evacuation alert and are advised to shelter in place.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, the District of Squamish issued a shelter-in-place advisory for properties downstream of Daisy Lake and the Cheakamus Dam.
The Líl̓wat Nation also expanded its evacuation order to include Kwetsa7 along the Lillooet River corridor to Lillooet Lake.
Forecasters are watching a concerningly strong low-pressure system over Alaska that is expected to sink south into the South Coast by Friday.
Typhoon Chempaka, which is also currently recurving across the Pacific Ocean. The energy from the tropical storm could reach B.C.’s coast on Saturday, bringing even more rainfall and packing an extra punch with powerful winds.
More advisories, alerts, and orders are likely to be issued throughout the weekend.