Rain parade to kick off in B.C. with looming atmospheric river
A potentially strong atmospheric river will usher in a storm parade to southern B.C., impacting the final weekend of September on the West Coast
A pattern shift in B.C. will bring a parade of low-pressure systems onto the coast through the final full week of September, encouraging more soggy weather for the end of the month.
The bull's-eye for the rain will shift from the Central and North Coast to the South Coast and southern Vancouver island by late Friday, lasting through the end of the weekend.
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These southern locations may experience a AR3-rated atmospheric river at the height of the event. More than 100 mm of rainfall is forecast for western Vancouver Island and the Coast Mountains.
The soaking weather will persist along the coast as consecutive systems roll in for the end of the work week, and continue on the weekend.
Final weekend in September to be rather soggy
The active storm track, which has been bringing heavy rain to the Central and North coasts will finally shift south on Friday, with a few systems impacting the southern coastal region. The storm parade will continue through most of next week.
The heaviest rain will be confined to the west-facing mountains in the higher elevations on Vancouver Island and along the Coast Mountains.
On Friday, steady rain begins in the morning on the North and Central coasts. The rain will advance south throughout the day on the western shores of Vancouver Island and into the South Coast by late day.
By the time Saturday comes around, rain continues for the South Coast and southern half of Vancouver Island, but it should gradually taper into the end of the day.
When we reach Sunday, another round of rain should push into Vancouver Island and the South Coast early in the day, and continue overnight and on Monday.
By Monday, more than 100 mm of rain is forecast in western Vancouver island and the Coast Mountains, while 30-50 mm is possible for the Lower Mainland. Totals may change leading up to the event.
So far, the Lower Mainland has avoided the brunt of recent rain storms, soaking in only 16.1 mm of rainfall this month. This event is no exception, with the heaviest avoiding Vancouver but a more southerly moisture feed may change the equation Sunday into Monday.
September is the traditional starting point for the wet season across the West Coast. Vancouver experiences the bulk of its annual rainfall between October and January.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on conditions across B.C.