Environment Canada issues rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver

The Lower Mainland is looking at a very wet start to the week.

Environment Canada upgraded the region’s special weather statement to a rainfall warning Monday afternoon ahead of the coming downpour. It’s in effect for the following areas:

• Metro Vancouver – central including the City of Vancouver Burnaby and New Westminster
• Metro Vancouver – North Shore including West Vancouver and North Vancouver
• Metro Vancouver – northeast including Coquitlam and Maple Ridge
• Metro Vancouver – southeast including Surrey and Langley

The weather agency says between 50 and 80 mm of rainfall could occur over Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, and parts of East Vancouver Island. The rain will start overnight and persist until Tuesday afternoon, before a second, weaker system comes Tuesday evening.

Environment Canada says that a “frontal system” is currently moving from the north and central coast to the south coast of British Columbia on Monday. Over the Lower Mainland, the frontal system “will become entrenched overnight and through Tuesday afternoon.”

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Rain in the forecast is expected to remain until Thursday during the daytime. Friday’s forecast calls for mainly sunny skies heading into the weekend.