Flood risks rise as atmospheric river hits B.C., bringing rain, snow and wind

Spring break is off to a rough start with a powerful atmospheric river drenching B.C.’s South Coast, raising concerns about flooding, landslides and avalanches.

An atmospheric river washing over British Columbia from the Pacific is creating dangerous conditions that could lead to flooding and the potential for large avalanches. 

Environment Canada has issued rainfall and storm warnings for western and northern Vancouver Island and the inland and central coast, with between 100 and 250 millimetres of rain expected. 

The forecaster said the deluge could set off road washouts and landslides. 

The Central Coast Regional District issued an evacuation alert around 4:30 p.m. Monday for Martin Valley due to flooding potential landslide risk from Mount Caro Marion. It warned people in households between Highland Drive and Garden Drive to be ready to leave on short notice.

Heavy rain, up to 150 millimetres, is also forecast for eastern Vancouver Island and the northern communities of Metro Vancouver, while snow of up to 15 centimetres is predicted for many Interior and northern communities. 

DriveBC, the website for road conditions in the province, warns of pooling water and heavy rain on several routes on Vancouver Island, while the caution is for snow on southern Interior and northern coastal highways. 

Avalanche Canada says the heavy rain also brings an increased avalanche threat, marking the danger rating as high for large swaths of Vancouver Island, the southern and central coastal regions and along the Rockies. 

“Of all the regions about to get walloped by this storm, the central Columbias is our top contender for weak layers producing large, destructive avalanches,” Avalanche Canada says on its site, suggesting people “steer clear” of avalanche terrain.

The avalanche forecaster rates the danger as high in several mountainous zones in B.C., saying the danger will spread through the week. 

“Heavy snowfall, strong wind and rising temperatures are expected to begin a natural avalanche cycle,” it says on its website. 

The River Forecast Centre has issued flood watches that cover northern and western Vancouver Island and the Central and inland coasts, warning that rivers could crest their banks. 

“This transition to warmer temperatures and higher freezing levels may produce rain-on-snow runoff, particularly at mid elevations where new snowfall from the early phase of the storm may quickly transition to rainfall,” the centre says in its assessment. 

“Lower-elevation snowpacks that developed during recent cooler weather may also contribute to additional runoff as temperatures rise.” 

High-streamflow advisories are in place for the southern B.C. coast, including Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria, eastern Vancouver Island, the North Coast and the upper Fraser region, encompassing Prince George. 

The centre says flood risks in the coastal regions are likely to rise as the atmospheric river moves across the province. 

“Current forecasts indicate that multiple pulses of precipitation may impact the region through early to mid-week,” the flood watch advisory for the Central Coast says. 

At higher elevations, the system will generate heavy snow, with Environment Canada issuing a winter storm warning for the ski resort of Whistler and sections of the Sea to Sky Highway.

Up to 20 centimetres of snow is expected to fall before it turns to rain late Monday. 

Wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres an hour are forecast for the Fraser Canyon and the Chilcotin regions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 16, 2026.