Atmospheric river batters B.C. coast, Vancouver Island regions under flood watch

British Columbia’s River Forecast Centre has expanded its flood watch advisories to cover swaths of Vancouver Island as an atmospheric river moves through the region.

Central, eastern and southern Vancouver Island were upgraded to the status as of 11 a.m. Sunday, joining northern and western Vancouver Island as well as B.C.’s south coast, Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver regions already under that classification.

The centre says prolonged periods of heavy rain are expected alongside warmer temperatures and added runoff due to “rain-on-snow melt,” noting that peak river levels are expected until Monday on Vancouver Island and the south coast.