An atmospheric river is on its way to Vancouver Island, and Environment Canada says it could result in over 300 mm of rain for some parts over several days.<\/p>\n
The weather agency has issued a special weather statement for West<\/a>, Inland<\/a> and North<\/a> Vancouver Island as a result of the atmospheric river.<\/p>\n The rain is expected to start on Sunday morning and last into Wednesday.<\/p>\n Environment Canada warns that the prolonged heavy rain on snow will combine with snow melt and will create the potential for flooding.<\/p>\n There may also be extensive water pooling on roads and wash outs, and the rain will bring an enhanced risk of landslides.<\/p>\n The heaviest rainfall is expected on Monday and Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cAlthough there is still uncertainty regarding rainfall amounts associated with this atmospheric river, total rainfall amounts could exceed 300 mm for West Vancouver Island and could exceed 150 mm for Inland Vancouver Island, North Vancouver Island and the coastal sections of the Central Coast,\u201d Environment Canada said in the special weather statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n Atmospheric rivers can vary in length and impact, usually dumping \u201cmoderate to heavy rain\u201d for one to three days, though generally they are not a danger on their own, Derek Lee, a meterologist with Environment Canada, told CHEK News in March 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cIn general, I would say atmospheric rivers have caused a lot of alarms in our heads, but not all of them are disastrous,\u201d said Lee.<\/p>\n \u201cSo it will only be disastrous in situations where, say, your soils have been very saturated after a long period of rainfall and an atmospheric river hits.\u201d<\/p>\n