The BC storm was a one in 50 year event in some parts of the province, and a one in 100 year event in many others.
Sunday and Monday also accounted for the wettest days the province has ever seen in a 24-hour period for locations like Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
- You might also like:
- Castle Fun Park in Abbotsford has been closed due to heavy flooding
- Aerial footage shows extent of devastating flooding in Abbotsford (VIDEO/PHOTOS)
- Merritt evacuation order to remain for "likely more than a week”
Heavy rains and winds rampaged many parts of the province, and according to Environment Canada, atmospheric rivers might just be the new normal if current climate conditions continue.
“So that is putting into context how anomalous this event was, and what’s also good to consider is what is consistent with climate change projections and how atmospheric rivers will become more potent and perhaps longer lasting than what we even saw this past weekend,” said Armel Castellan, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, during an Emergency Management BC press conference.
“Something to consider as we go forward in the next decades.”
#BCStorm (plural) have been unrelenting for over 2 months now. Here are the last 60days seen as a percentile: Purple = Exceptionally High. Weekend #AtmosphericRiver certainly bumped the values for all of southern BC. pic.twitter.com/TsnUarYLu9
— Armel Castellan (he/him/il/lui) (@armelcastellan) November 16, 2021
There was a bit of positive news as well, with the forecast set to be a little bit brighter for the next little while.
“We are lucky we have a ridge building today, and we saw the sun for many locations.”
There are a few flurries expected at higher elevations.
Castellan mentioned there could possibly be a return to “fairly active weather” early next week, but he did not go into more detail.