Massive storms directed for southwest B.C., endangering restoration from floods and landslides

Key takeaways:

Up to 80 mm of rainfall is the prediction for sections of the region’s South Coast on Thursday.
Several B.C. families taken out by flooding have retreated to sift into the bits of their houses and attempt and conclude out what might come next.

Hefty storms directed towards southwest BC:

As B.C. leads first on healing from critical flooding that urged the evacuation of thousands the previous week, another set of storms is in the outlook, which could place a step back.

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan states some storms are directed to the southwest section of the region, the first of which is anticipated on Thursday. Though rain won’t be as notable as it was the previous week, Castellan stated it could “exacerbate the vulnerabilities on the ground currently.” Source – cbc.ca

Environment Canada is anticipating up to 80 millimetres of rainfall for the North Shore mountains and Howe Sound, as well as the Fraser Valley, which has previously experienced severe flooding.

A snowfall alert is in impact for the Coquihalla Highway within Hope and Merritt, which is currently blocked due to destruction sustained during the Nov. 13-15 storm. Up to 30 centimetres of snowfall could decline in the area by noon on Tuesday.

The added storm is the prediction for Saturday afternoon.

All this rainfall will be falling on land that is already saturated, which could mean a greater likelihood of water running downhill and causing mudslides and flooding.

Abbotsford fixes for added rain

Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun stated Tuesday the city has stopped investigating its diking system and got less than one per cent required restoration after the previous week’s massive rainfall. Around 80 per cent of the restorations were finished, he stated.

“We expect another five feet (1.5 metres) of height to be added to the dike before the weather event anticipated for Thursday,” Braun stated during a press conference Thursday. Source – cbc.ca