Storms to bring heavy rain, strong winds and flood risk across coastal and central B.C.

Communities across coastal and central British Columbia are being warned to brace for a series of storms expected to bring powerful winds, heavy rainfall and rising river levels through the end of the week.

The province’s Ministry of Emergency Management said the weather system is forecast to begin Thursday, with residents urged to prepare for possible power outages, travel disruptions and localized flooding.

Environment Canada has issued wind warnings for northern Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii, and much of the central and northern coast, with gusts expected to reach between 90 and 110 kilometres per hour. Rainfall warnings are also in place for parts of the central Interior and northern regions, where as much as 80 to 100 millimetres of rain could fall.

B.C.’s River Forecast Centre has placed flood watches on the Skeena River and surrounding tributaries, cautioning that intense rainfall may push rivers beyond their banks. The agency added that the storm system is expected to move south on Friday, raising concerns about high streamflows on the south coast, including the Lower Mainland, southern Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast and the Sea to Sky corridor.

Emergency officials are advising residents in affected regions to monitor alerts and prepare emergency kits, particularly in areas prone to flooding or power outages.