Environment Canada has issued a yellow rainfall warning for most of the Lower Mainland, forecasting a “prolonged atmospheric river event through Wednesday morning.
An atmospheric river will remain over B.C.’s South Coast until Wednesday morning (March 18), bringing prolonged periods of rain — at times, heavy, the federal agency said in the warning.
Rainfall totals will vary, but between 90 to 120 millimetres can be expected by Wednesday morning.
Additionally, freezing levels will rise from near 500 metres to between 2,000 and 2,500 metres Monday morning (March 16), with snowmelt from higher elevations having the potential to increase the impacts associated with this rainfall event.
Water will likely pool on roads and in low-lying areas, Environment Canada noted, meaning some travel delays are possible.
“Landslides may occur in vulnerable areas such as steep slopes, deforested areas or recent burn scars,” the warning cautioned.