A woman walks a dog as heavy rain falls in downtown Vancouver on Oct. 19.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Environment Canada says strong winds and heavy rain are expected overnight and into Monday for British Columbia’s south coast.
It says “relatively short but intense episodes of rain” are expected to begin just after midnight, with early indicators suggesting up to 100 millimetres of rain over the mountainous regions of western Vancouver Island.
The weather agency says lower amounts are expected elsewhere across the region.
It says strong southeast winds are also expected overnight before becoming “very strong west to northwest winds” on Monday.
Environment Canada also issued a wind warning for exposed coastal regions of northern Vancouver Island and the Central Coast, saying winds that begin Sunday evening will get stronger overnight and possibly gust up to 110 km/h before easing in the afternoon.
Special weather statements were also issued for mountain passes in southern B.C. that are warning drivers of “gusty winds, rapidly accumulating snow and blowing snow” that may result in low visibility starting Monday.
“A strong frontal system passing through central B.C. will cause a strong frontal band to sweep through the southern part of the province,” it says.
It says snow accumulations on the highest summits, including the Coquihalla and Kootenay Pass where winter storm warnings are in effect, may exceed 20 centimetres on Monday. Strong winds are expected to continue into Tuesday.