A series of storms bringing warm temperatures, elevated freezing levels and periods of heavy rain to the qathet region will increase the potential for flooding, pooling water and possible landslides, according to a weather alert issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada earlier today.
The warning indicated that from Monday, January 29, until Wednesday, January 31, "a series of storms is bringing periods of heavy rain to coastal BC. The very warm air mass will result in temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius above seasonal. The combination of elevated freezing levels and heavy rain will result in snow melt which will be in addition to the already heavy rainfall."
The weather alert includes the Sunshine Coast areas from Saltery Bay heading north to Lund, and all areas in-between. Heavy rainfall with snow melt may cause rivers to flood, pooling on roads and a risk of landslides.
"The heaviest rainfall is expected to continue through the day today and ease off by Tuesday morning. The next wave of precipitation is expected by Wednesday morning," according to the Environment and Climate Change Canada alert.
Today until Friday, the daytime temperature will fluctuate between eight and 12 degrees Celsius, with 45 millimetres of rainfall expected today.
The mix of a rise in temperature and heavy rain is called an atmospheric river or sometimes called "Pineapple Express."
According to an Environment and Climate Change Canada special information update: "An atmospheric river is a long flow of moisture that travels thousands of kilometres from warm areas near the equator to cooler regions in the north. When this moisture makes landfall on the western coast of North America, it forms bands of heavy rain. If the atmospheric river stalls over one location for a long period of time, widespread flooding is likely to happen."
"Atmospheric rivers on average are 400 kilometres wide and over 1,000 kilometres long. They are sometimes called a "Pineapple Express" or a "tropical punch" in western Canada because they often originate around the same latitude as the Hawaiian Islands. Western Canada typically experiences between 12 and 24 atmospheric rivers in any one year."
To get hyperlocal weather information, go to Weatherhood or download the Weatherhood app on mobile devices.
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