Coastal B.C. braces for strong winds, flooding

Much of coastal B.C. is bracing forfloods, after Environment Canada issued a rainfall warningandforecasted that anywhere from 50 to 100 millimetres would fall over Saturday and into Sunday.

Areas north of Campbell River on Vancouver Islandandon the west coast of the island are expected to be the worst hit, and could face flooding overnight.

At 4:00 p.m. PT Saturday, the BC River Forecast Centreupgraded a flood advisory to a "flood watch" forareas around Bamfield, Tofino, Gold River, Zeballos and north of Campbell River and issued a"High Streamflow Advisory" for east Vancouver Island and south Vancouver Island, including areas from Campbell River south to Duncan.

The City of Courtenay placed its community under a flood alert Friday, and on Saturday crews were bagging sand in anticipation of significant flooding.

"With the weather forecast calling for heavy precipitation, rising freezing levels and subsequent snow melt, combined with high tides and winds, residents and businesses near the Courtenay River, Tsolum River and Puntledge River should be on alert and prepare to evacuate if necessary," the city stated in a news release.

Delta, B.C., braces for dike breach

Even as government officials in low-lying Delta, B.C., celebrated the completion of upgrades to a pump and sections of theBoundary Bay dike, emergency operations crewswent into flood alert mode Saturday.

At noon, the Corporation of Delta issued a storm advisoryfor North and South Delta and aflood advisory for the Beach Grove and Boundary Bay neighbourhoods of Tsawwassen.

And although heavy rains thathave been forecast for much of the coastshould also fall on Delta, it'sthe combination of two other natural forces that are of a particular concern for the ocean-facing areas.

Strong windsare anticipated to coincide with a high tide, whichwill increase the possibility of flooding in the Boundary Bay area,the Corporation of Delta said in the advisory.

Mayor Lois E. Jackson directed Deltas Emergency Operations Centre to openSunday at6 a.m. PT to co-ordinate Deltas response.

Due to the severe weather system, BC Ferries was forced to cancelafternoonand eveningsailings Saturday oninside passage routes between Campbell River and Quadra Island, Comox and Powell River, and Powell River and Texada Island.