Environment Canada says heavy rain from an atmospheric river is expected to continue in Metro Vancouver through Wednesday night, with warnings in effect for multiple areas.
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A yellow rainfall warning is in effect for much of Metro Vancouver, including downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and Coquitlam, as an atmospheric river brings wet, warm weather to the region.
Environment Canada meteorologist Mike Gismondi said the rain is expected to continue through Tuesday, then intensify later Tuesday and into the evening commute and overnight hours, with the heaviest period forecast for Tuesday evening and into the night.
Gismondi said the system may ease up on Wednesday morning, but a second bout of rain is forecast during the day Wednesday, making for a prolonged period of rainfall with large totals.
For areas north of the city, an orange warning has been issued, including the Sea to Sky Highway between Squamish and Whistler, where up to 160 millimetres of rain may fall before Thursday morning.
Within the Metro Vancouver warnings, Gismondi said the City of Vancouver and Burnaby could see around 50 mm of rainfall, while North Vancouver could receive up to 100 mm by Wednesday night.
He advised residents to make sure storm drains are clear, saying ground conditions are already saturated and will absorb little additional water, increasing runoff risks.
Temperatures are expected to remain mild, with values forecast between 11 C and 13 C over the next two days, and a warm air mass expected to persist into Thursday as the atmospheric river shifts overnight between Wednesday and Thursday.
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