2024 British Columbia floods
 Flooding in Surrey, British Columbia during the storm. | |
| Date | 18 October 2024 – 20 October 2024 |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern British Columbia, Canada Northwestern Washington, United States |
| Cause | Heavy rainfall |
| Deaths | 3[1] |
| Property damage | Unknown[2] |
The 2024 British Columbia floods were a series of floods that are affecting the coastal regions of Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and southern Vancouver Island that began on October 18, 2024.[3][4] Although the majority of the Lower Mainland has not had any emergency alerts,[5] in the District of North Vancouver, a state of emergency has been issued for some neighbourhoods due to the flooding.[6][7]
Meteorological synopsis
A strong low pressure system developed in the Gulf of Alaska in the days leading up to the event, pulling a cold front along with it.[8] The motion of the low stalled the cold front and associated moisture plume with heavy rain being observed in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. The Olympic Peninsula of Washington state also received heavy rain.[9]
The moisture reached southwestern British Columbia on October 18. It wasn't until October 20 when a new low pressure system captured the cold front and swept the system eastward. Chinook winds were observed in Alberta while heavy precipitation was falling in British Columbia before the system moved eastward and brought snow to Calgary and Edmonton on October 21.[10]
Preparations
A couple days before the floods, Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning due to an atmospheric river expected to "drench the B.C. coast" through the October 18th weekend.[11]
Impact
2024 BC General Election
The floods happened to pour in on the same weekend as the 2024 BC general election (October 19, 2024). Due to this, some local polling stations offline and without power and forcing them to use manual procedures as backup.[12] The timing of the excessive raining and floods with the election day has led some people to believe its some sort of conspiracy.[13][14]
Metro Vancouver
In the Metro Vancouver district, there have been many reports of power outages and road blockages.[15] The road blocks have left many people going to the election soaked by the heavy rain. There have also been reports of "muddy water and debris" going down 21st street near Queens avenue in West Vancouver. Many buses and forms of public transit have also been delayed or have been detoured from their original paths.[16]
Fraser Valley
The Fraser Valley district has also reported similar problems to Metro Vancouver. Between Mission and Maple Ridge on Highway 7, a portion of 287 Street has been closed off due to the flooding, the notice was issued before 11 a.m. local time on October 19th.[17] In the Sumas Prairie area within Abbotsford (right next to Chilliwack), many farmers were "preparing the worst for this weekend"[18] with many of them still dealing with the aftermath of the 2021 floods in the same region.
References
- ^ Coyne, Todd (2024-10-21). "Death toll from B.C. atmospheric river climbs as driver found dead, another presumed drowned". CTV. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ None officially reported as of October 20, 2024.
- ^ Corp, Pelmorex (2024-10-19). "B.C. coast braces for a dominant atmospheric river, raising flood worries". The Weather Network. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ Crawford, Emma (2024-10-19). "BC Storm: Rainfall expected to break records during weather event". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Metro Vancouver hit with massive flooding, road closures on the day of B.C. provincial election". British Columbia. 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ Carey, Charlie (2024-10-21). "BC Storm: North Vancouver declares state of local emergency". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ https://x.com/NVanDistrict/status/1848195398692712505?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1848195398692712505%7Ctwgr%5Ed19fa4ff40b6427af1585ade455c5212a4ae8462%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fvancouver.citynews.ca%2F2024%2F10%2F20%2Fdistrict-of-north-vancouver-state-of-emergency-atmospheric-river-flooding%2F
- ^ "CW3E AR Update: 16 October 2024 Outlook". Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes. 2024-10-17. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ "Heavy rain forecast this weekend for British Columbia and NW Washington". Ingalls Weather. 2024-10-16. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ "Enjoy the weekend weather, Alberta — winter is coming and an atmospheric river is to blame | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2024-10-21.
- ^ "Rainfall warning in Metro Vancouver: Heavy rain could cause localized flooding". Vancouver Is Awesome. 2024-10-18. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ "Storm causes power outages at some polling stations across B.C." British Columbia. 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-19.
- ^ Jon du Toit on X: "@CTVNews If only British Columbians paid more carbon tax!" / X
- ^ Solenn Madevon on X: "An atmospheric river on voting day with a climate denying party on the ballot is strangely poetic. #bcpoli #BCelection2024" / X
- ^ "Metro Vancouver hit with massive flooding, road closures on the day of B.C. provincial election". British Columbia. 2024-10-19. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ B.C. storm live updates: Heavy rain, power outages hit Metro Vancouver | Vancouver Sun
- ^ Mitchell, Don. "Portion of Highway 7 in Maple Ridge closed due to flooding: Drive BC". Fraser Valley Today | Everything Fraser Valley. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
- ^ Williams, Michael (2024-10-19). "Fraser Valley farmers brace for B.C. storm". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved 2024-10-20.