Powerful October storms expected to pound B.C. South Coast this week

A series of powerful storms is expected to pound B.C.'s South Coast this week, including Metro Vancouver and Victoria, with heavy rains and strong winds expected to arrive Wednesday night and continue through Sunday.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the following areas, with rainfall and wind warnings likely as the storm approaches:

• Metro Vancouver.
• Fraser Valley including Abbotsford and Chiliwack.
• Vancouver Island, except the Northern Vancouver Island.
• Sunshine Coast.
• Whistler.
• Howe Sound.
• Southern Gulf Islands.

Rainfall on the west and inland areas of Vancouver Island may exceed 200 mm, while rain in inner coastal regions could top 100 mm, Environment Canada warns.

Winds over exposed coastal areas may exceed 80 km/hr.

"Summer is over, we're back into the wet pattern," said Environment Canada meteorologist David Wray.

"We do see several strong storms on the horizon, such is the case this time of year normally."

He says while this is expected to be one of the two to three "typical" storms southern B.C. receives each year, this one could be slightly wetter because it is drawing moisture from a typhoon in the western Pacific Ocean.

If the storm continues to track towards the South Coast as expected, Wray says Environment Canada will likely put out an official warning on Wednesday.