B.C. kayaker dead, body recovered amid floods
theweathernetwork.com
Tuesday, January 30, 2018, 1:41 PM - The body of a kayaker who died on the Capilano River in Metro Vancouver was recovered Tuesday, amid high floodwaters brought on by days of torrential rain.
North Vancouver RCMP responded to a distress call regarding the kayaker on Monday, and emergency services attempted a rescue. However, the effort was soonafter reclassified as a recovery operation, which was suspended overnight due to darkness and swift-running waters.
The body of a 49-year-old North Vancouver man was ultimately recovered Tuesday morning. Police say he had been alone on the river.
"Although ... water levels have started to drop back to seasonal, conditions remain hazardous in the streams and rivers of Metro Vancouver," North Shore Rescue, which was involved in the operation, said in a Facebook post announcing the recovery. "Exercise extreme caution near any moving water and be aware that water levels can change quickly with rain and temperature changes."
Southern B.C. has been the target of an atmospheric river of moisture that brought heavy rain for several days. Vancouver Island has born the brunt of the deluge, with more than 100 mm of rain falling on parts of the island over the course of several days.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre ended high streamflow advisories for the central and south coasts Tuesday morning, but issued a flood warning for southern Vancouver Island, while maintaining flood watches and high streamflow advisories elsewhere.
The heavy rainfall has also increased the risk of mudslides, several of which have been reported over the course of this rainfall event. On Monday, a car was swept away by one such slide near Nanaimo with the driver still in it, though driver was rescued mostly unharmed.
