A rainstorm is on the way, and it鈥檚 going to make for a wet weekend in the 撸奶社区Valley.
鈥淲e are expecting quite a bit of rain,鈥� said Matt Loney, a meteorologist with Environment Canada. 鈥淭he rain will pick up tonight and tomorrow, take a short break Saturday night, and then come back stronger on Sunday.鈥�
By the end of the storm, the 撸奶社区Valley could see between 120 and 140 millimetres of rain.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 just in the valley," Loney said. "If you head up into the mountains, there will be even more rain鈥攎aybe double the amount鈥攁nd all that water will eventually flow into the rivers,鈥� said Loney.
The S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh Nation is watching the weather closely
The Nation has also issued a flood and safety advisory, asking residents to be careful around rivers and creeks via . The Nation said rivers will rise quickly from the rain expected to start Friday, Oct. 18, and continue through to Sunday, Oct. 20.
鈥淭he Nation is monitoring the situation and will continue to do so as conditions persist,鈥� the advisory posted on Facebook said.
The message also asked everyone to stay clear of fast-moving water and riverbanks, which could become unstable.
District of 撸奶社区crews on the ground
鈥淐rews are checking creeks, drainage channels, and key areas for blockages,鈥� said Christina Moore, the district鈥檚 communications director in an email to The 撸奶社区.
鈥淭hey are also monitoring river levels, flood gates, and pumps through our online system and with in-person inspections.鈥�
While no evacuation alerts are in place, the District warns that low-lying areas could experience some flooding. The District 鈥渨ill maintain contact with BC Hydro in the event that any spill notification from the Daisy Lake dam is issued.鈥�
Will it be as bad as the 2022 flood?
This storm brings almost as much rain as the Dec. 2022 storm that flooded parts of downtown Squamish.
However, Loney said the risk this time is lower. 鈥淲hat made the 2022 storm so challenging was the high tide on Dec. 27. This time, we don鈥檛 have to worry about tides, which means the chance of flooding is smaller,鈥� he said.
Flood watch in effect
The has issued a Flood Watch for the South Coast, including the Sea to Sky Corridor and nearby areas like Whistler, Sechelt, and Squamish. A Flood Watch means rivers could rise fast and may spill over their banks.
鈥淔or river levels and flood alerts, the River Forecast Centre is the go-to,鈥� Loney said.
鈥淏ut residents, especially those in areas like Paradise Valley, should keep an eye on the rivers and stay informed.鈥�
Don鈥檛 forget the wind 鈥� clear your storm drains
On Sunday, strong winds could add to the challenges.
鈥淲hile winds may not be a major issue early in the storm, we could see stronger winds from the ocean on Sunday. With many leaves still on the trees, there鈥檚 a chance they could clog storm drains,鈥� Loney said.
鈥淚f you have a storm drain near your home, check it and clear any leaves you can to prevent flooding.鈥�
For residents who need sandbags, the District has set up the usual sandbag station at Brennan Park. Sand and bags are available, but residents are asked to bring their own shovels to fill them. 鈥淭here will be some shovels available to share, but we ask that they be left for the next person,鈥� said Moore.
November is known for heavy rain
According to shared by the government of Canada, November is one of the wettest months of the year in Squamish, with an average of 383 mm of rain.
The atmospheric rivers鈥攍ong streams of water vapour in the sky鈥攁re common on the coast according to Loney.
鈥淲e鈥檝e already had a few hit the North Coast this year. This is the first for the South Coast, and it鈥檚 going to have an impact,鈥� he said.
This kind of storm is normal for the area, but it still requires attention. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like a river in the sky. When it runs into mountains, the water turns into rain. The higher the mountains, the more rain they get,鈥� Loney said.
With lots of rain, wind, and rising rivers expected, it鈥檚 important for everyone to be ready. Keep an eye on weather alerts, check on nearby storm drains, and stay away from fast-moving water.
Bhagyashree Chatterjee is The 撸奶社区鈥檚 Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the.
