(Victoria) The British Columbia Ministry of Transportation closed several highways on Saturday in preparation for the upcoming storm in southern BC.
The closures are located between the Interior and the Continental Lowlands, an area already hit by severe flooding where only essential traffic is allowed. Authorities are rushing to repair damaged infrastructure and deal with a fuel shortage caused by the disaster.
Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton, Highway 99 from Pemberton to Lillooet, and Highway 1 in the Fraser Canyon and Hope to Popkum area will be closed to traffic.
“The highway infrastructures in these sectors are very vulnerable following the last storm. The heavy downpours forecast add further danger, ”the ministry said in a statement.
The duration of these closings will depend on the weather. The situation will be reassessed on Sunday morning.
Heavy precipitation fell over the mainland Lowlands, central coast and parts of Vancouver Island. Another rainstorm is looming on the horizon.
Environment Canada has warned that up to 120mm of rain could hit mountainous areas like Squamish and Whistler by Sunday afternoon. Other areas, which have recently suffered severe flooding, may also receive rain.
The agency has issued a weather alert for Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Sunshine Coast and parts of Vancouver Island.
Rain is expected to intensify over the next night before subsiding on Sunday afternoon, but the showers will resume early next week.
PHOTO JENNIFER GAUTHIER, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Environment Canada has warned that up to 120mm of rain could hit mountainous areas like Squamish and Whistler by Sunday afternoon.
The province’s watercourse monitoring center has updated its warning for Vancouver Island. Some watercourses could emerge from their beds and flood neighboring areas.
Some areas south of the Campbell and Gold rivers are also under surveillance as heavy showers are expected in the Port Renfrew area.
Other rivers meandering Vancouver Island are also monitored, including the Cowichan and Englishman rivers.
“The population is advised to stay away from torrents and potentially unstable shores during this period of high flow,” warned the monitoring center.
The closure of Highway 1 between Popkum and Hope is necessary to allow BC Hydro to partially target the Jones Lake reservoir to protect it. The company is working with the ministry to monitor the place. Teams are ready to respond across the province in the event of power outages.