Rainfall warnings issued for B.C.’s south coast

Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for British Columbia’s south coast, after a weekend deluge triggered at least one landslide and forced the closure of a portion of Vancouver’s seawall.

The weather office says up to 180 millimetres of rain was expected to fall on western Vancouver Island, while up to 120 millimetres of rain was forecast for the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley regions.

Localized flooding is possible in low-lying areas as the rain is expected to persist through Monday evening, according to the agency.

The City of Port Coquitlam says heavy rainfall triggered a landslide Sunday in a residential neighbourhood near the Fraser River.

No homes were damaged in the slide and no injuries were reported, but the municipality asked residents to avoid the area while officials from the provincial Ministry of Transportation assessed the scene.

The highest rainfall totals in Metro Vancouver are expected near the coastal mountains, Environment Canada said.

“Rainfall warnings are issued when significant rainfall is expected,” the agency warned.

“If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance.”

A section of the seawall in Vancouver’s Stanley Park was closed over the weekend due to the downpour.

The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation is asking pedestrians and cyclists to avoid the area between Third Beach and the Lions Gate Bridge until further notice.