Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver Sunday (Oct 30), calling for heavy downpours and 50 to 70 mm of rain in the region.
The warning and expected rain are thanks to an atmospheric river storm that has arrived on the South Coast, affecting a broad area, including Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound, the Fraser Valley and the Sea to Sky - Squamish to Whistler zone.
While some rain fell across Metro Vancouver Saturday, the most intense rainfall of this system will fall Sunday morning, tapering to lighter rain in the afternoon.
Total rainfall amounts near 50 mm are expected for most regions, except up to 70 mm over the North Shore Mountains and Howe Sound, notes Environment Canada in its warning.
Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible.
Vancouver could potentially beat a precipitation record set in 1999 when 48.2 mm of rainfall was recorded.
Strong winds expected in some parts of Metro Vancouver
For some parts of Metro Vancouver, heavy gusts will also be a factor to contend with as part of this atmospheric river; coastal regions near Boundary Bay will also see strong southeast winds of 50 km/h gusting to 70 this morning, cautions Canada's weather agency.
Heavy rain will ease this evening with the passage of the system.
Today's temperature in Metro Vancouver will see a high of 11C, which is on par with the average for this day in the record books, however, our nighttime low is much higher than the average of 4.8C, with tonight's temp forecast to drop only a couple of degrees down to 9C.
Unfortunately, the Halloween forecast for Metro Vancouver no longer points to dry conditions on Monday night as initially hoped. During the day, Metro Vancouver is forecast to contend with a 60 per cent chance of showers late in the morning and in the afternoon, and a 40 per cent chance of showers at night. The daytime high will be 12C and the nighttime low 5C, meaning it's likely to be on the damp and chilly side for trick-or-treaters and other revellers.
