NANAIMO — A flood warning was updated early Monday morning for the Englishman River system in Parksville, as a result of a weekend’s worth of heavy rain.
While exact measurements vary wildly across the region, community-run weather stations in the region recorded between 60 and 100 millimetres of rain falling on the Nanaimo-Oceanside area beginning Friday, Jan. 9 and continuing into Monday, Jan. 12.
It prompted the B.C. River Forecast Centre to issue a flood warning for the Englishman River, near Parksville, advising “river levels have exceeded bankfull or will exceed bankfull imminently, and that flooding of areas adjacent to the rivers affected will result.”
“Localized high flows are expected due to heavy rainfall rates and rain-on-snow melt runoff throughout the coastal region. Peak river levels are expected through Monday on Vancouver Island and the South Coast. Current flows on the Englishman River have reached or exceeded flood level.”
Flood warning and watches are in place for much of Vancouver Island, including the Englishman River system in Parksville, as a result of heavy rainfall over recent days. (Image Credit: BC River Forecast Centre)
Flood watches were also issued for surrounding areas of eastern Vancouver Island, suggesting levels may continue to rise.
Discharge and water levels measured in multiple local river systems suggest current stream flows and levels are of a level only seen every two to five years.
Nile Creek, near Bowser, is seeing a 20 to 50 year return level as of Monday morning, while Nanaimo’s Millstone River has flows typically seen every one to two years.
Rain is expected to continue through much of Monday.
A yellow alert for rainfall, issued by Environment Canada overnight, for areas north of Nanaimo said upwards of 75 millimetres of rain is expected by the lunch hour.
“An atmospheric river continues to bring rain, at times heavy, to the region. Heavy rain will ease to periods of light to moderate rain in the morning. Water will likely pool on roads and in low-lying areas. Visibility will likely be suddenly reduced at times.”
Similar warnings are in place for around Port Alberni, with 120 to 140 millimetres of rain expected, while upwards of 250 millimetres of rain is forecast for part of the Island’s west coast.
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