Another atmospheric river hitting B.C.’s south coast is expected to ease Tuesday, but not before flood watches were put in place for rivers throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
Not every atmospheric river event can be called a pineapple express, but all pineapple express events are atmospheric rivers – like the one that has been saturating the region. Overnight Sunday the heavy rain total in Chilliwack was 46.4 mm, according to Chilliwack weather observer Roger Pannett, which made for a rainfall total of 51.6 mm for the date of Jan. 11, 2026.
Rain, heavy at times, was expected to continue Tuesday, Pannett said, as the volunteer observer and storm chaser for Environment Climate Change Canada.
These rainfall events can raise the risk of flooding and fluctuating temperatures also bring risk of landslides and avalanche threats if the snowpack in the upper elevations is destabilized. The rain that drenched B.C. over the weekend can rightfully be called a pineapple express because it emanated from the Pacific Ocean, with bands of moisture moving into B.C. from near the Hawaiian Islands.
An evacuation order affecting 11 properties in the Chemainus River Bridge area on south-central Vancouver Island was issued then rescinded. Emergency Management Cowichan said Monday afternoon that residents in the affected area could return to their homes. High water is still impacting Chemainus Road, however and the bridge and road remain closed and will stay that way until the water recedes further.
Environment Canada expanded an earlier warning for heavy rainfall to include Vancouver Island just shy of Port Alice in the north, inland as far as Gold River, and Cumberland, and hitting the east coast of the Island in Parksville.
As of 10 a.m. on Monday, there were no road closures as of 10 a.m. around Langley Township, but the water levels in small local rivers were still rising. Low lying areas in parks, golf courses, and fields were flooded.
The Road Safety at Work project, which is funded by WorkSafeBC, put out a warning about driving safely in heavy rain.
“Rain can challenge even the best drivers,” said program director Trace Acres. “It’s easy to get complacent about it because we see so much rain in fall and winter. But every trip on a wet road puts drivers and their passengers at risk.”
Hydroplaning can happen at any speed, but is most common over 60 km/h, Acres noted, and he warned that wet roads increase stopping distances, and that rain and fogged windshields can reduce visibility.
Drivers are advised to use winter tires with the three-peaked mountain and snowflake symbols, reduce speeds to below the posted limits, increase following distance to at last four seconds, and use headlights and tail lights to ensure you are visible to other drivers.
Heavy rain caused the Nicomekl river to overflow on Langley City rendering park paths impassible. pic.twitter.com/UlREPyllMd
— Langley Advance Times (@LangleyTimes) January 12, 2026