Growing risks of localized flooding after rainfall warning issued
Posted January 17, 2017 6:36 am.
Last Updated January 17, 2017 11:07 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for much of the Lower Mainland. It says rain, heavy at times, may cause flash flooding, localized flooding in low-lying areas, and pooling water on roads. The rainfall will be combined with rapidly melting snow in many areas.
NEWS 1130 Meteorologist Russ Lacate says we can expect up to 25 millimetres of rain today and closer to 40 to 50 millimetres worth of rain tonight. “We can’t underplay how much rain is on the way. Yes, it will be wet tomorrow as well.”
He adds the rising southeast winds are bringing warm air which means it will only accelerate the snowmelt. Today’s high is expected to be about nine degrees which is a stark difference from last week with the arctic wind when temperatures were bottoming out near -15 with the wind chill.
“We add to that this rapidly rising freezing level, so around the Lower Mainland our drain system will have to deal with the melting snow, the heavy rain and the run-off from the mountains because it will be raining up to the peaks for the next couple of days as well. And that could create a whole host of new problems,” adds Lacate.
With the rain back along with melting ice and snow, there are flood risks in Metro Vancouver. Here are tips to avoid problems @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/jDL02KsL1B
— James Cybulski (@cballnews) January 17, 2017
Clearing catch basins
You survived round after round of heavy snow and it may have been all fun and games to build snowmen and to skate on Trout Lake, but the thaw is now leading to the big melt.
Ed Gibson is the President of Cambie Plumbing and he says first and foremost, check the drains around the curbs on the street in front of your home. “Make sure they’re clear and not jammed with ice or snow and if those are clear then usually the rest of it will go away.”
Gibson also recommends checking the catch basins or sumps by the stairs in the basement. If all else fails then call a plumber.
City crews around the Lower Mainland have been encouraging people to clear the area in front of their home or business in an effort to reduce the chance of localized flooding.
