The latest forecast for southern British Columbia calls for periods of heavy rain into Friday, setting off avalanche risks, flood watches and high streamflow advisories for area waterways.

The warning in a joint statement from B.C.’s Emergency Management Ministry and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship comes after the first deluge dropped more than 100 millimetres in some areas, including Tofino and Bella Bella, over a 24-hour period.

“People in coastal regions should use caution through the week, as British Columbia will continue to experience a series of atmospheric rivers affecting the Pacific Northwest,” the statement said.

Environment Canada upgraded its rainfall warnings to orange on Tuesday for B.C.’s central coast and the west coast of Vancouver Island, with up to 200 millimetres of rain possible by Wednesday.

The weather agency also issued a statement about a higher risk for localized flooding in the Interior, where the Kootenay region and Highway 1 near Rogers Pass face the possibility of elevated snowmelt as temperatures rise.

The Central Coast Regional District has issued an evacuation alert and order for parts of Martin Valley due to flooding and the risk of a landslide from Mt. Caro Marion.

A state of local emergency was declared Tuesday around 9:30 p.m. under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, citing significant threats to public safety and the need to control travel and support evacuations.

The alert applies to households along Laneway and Twin Lakes Road, with residents urged to prepare to evacuate or shelter in place as conditions may change with little notice.

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Officials say transportation routes are also affected by an evacuation order east of the Martin River.

This comes as a lower-level rainfall warning is in place for Whistler, Howe Sound, the Fraser Valley and the North Shore of Metro Vancouver, as well as for inland portions of Vancouver Island, with amounts forecast between 60 and 150 millimetres of rain depending on the location.

The highest recorded rainfall Monday was at the Estevan Point weather station off Vancouver Island’s west coast where 142 millimetres was recorded, while Terrace, in northwestern B.C., received 38 centimetres of snow and wind gusts on Sartine Island off Vancouver Island’s northern tip reached 144 kilometres an hour.

Warming conditions combined with heavy mixed rain and snow triggered cautions for high avalanche danger for parts of Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the Sunshine Coast and much of northwestern B.C., as well as Interior regions along the Rockies.

“Avoid exposure to avalanche terrain as rain continues to soak the snowpack,” says Avalanche Canada’s forecast for inland Vancouver Island.

On Tuesday, the B.C. River Forecast Centre downgraded Northern and Western Vancouver Island from a flood watch to a high streamflow advisory.

“As rainfall rates eased, rivers on northern Vancouver Island have begun to recede,” it said.

The rest of the island, it said, remains on a high streamflow advisory as rain is expected to continue throughout the week.

“Smaller rivers and streams throughout Vancouver Island may respond quickly to intense rainfall and could experience rapid rises during periods of heavy precipitation.”

High streamflow advisories also remain in effect for the North and South Coast as well as for the lower and upper regions of the Fraser River.

But the government statement says high streamflow advisories for the south coastal regions could escalate through the week based on locations of heaviest rainfall.

The forecast centre says the Central Coast, including tributaries and smaller streams around Bella Coola, Rivers Inlet and other coastal communities, remain on flood watch.

The province says areas within the Interior may also see high stream flows later this week “due to the strength of the storm system and increase in temperatures,” referring to a melt of mountain snowpack.

“Advisories may be issued for those areas later in the week,” the statement said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2026.

About 150 millimetres of rain is expected to fall on B.C.’s South Coast between Sunday night and Wednesday.

“The biggest impacts of this particular atmospheric river are gonna be the Sea to Sky Highway and some of the higher elevation areas on the North Shore Mountains, more than anything else,” Brian Proctor, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said.

“So, a wet pattern for Vancouver proper, but most of the city will, the metropolitan area will likely not see rainfall warning amounts falling.”

Rainfall warnings are now in place for Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast.

B.C.’s River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for Northern and Western Vancouver Island and is maintaining a high streamflow advisory for Central, Eastern and Southern Vancouver Island.

The River Forecast Centre is upgrading to a flood watch for the Central Coast, including tributaries and smaller streams around Bella Coola, Rivers Inlet, and other coastal communities.

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It is maintaining a high streamflow advisory for the North Coast, including tributaries along the outer coast and inland areas, including Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Terrace, and surrounding areas.

A high streamflow advisory is in place for the Upper Fraser, including the Robson Valley and tributaries in the Prince George region.

A high streamflow advisory is also in place for the North Shore Mountains and Metro Vancouver tributaries, Howe Sound and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, including Squamish and Pemberton, the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Fraser tributaries and the Fraser Valley.

2:15
B.C. sees brief sunshine ahead of forecasted spring break atmospheric river

“Typically, as you move further into March, we often see things become more sort of episodic, if I can put it that way,” Proctor said.

“So we get a storm coming through and then we get a bit of a break behind it before the next one comes in, whereas this one, we’re just sort of queuing them up more than anything else.”

This atmospheric river is expected to last until Wednesday morning, but more rain is on the way after that, according to forecast models.

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A winter storm that began falling on Ontario on Sunday has left cars buried and people waiting out the snow with even more centimetres expected to fall.

The conditions are part of a winter storm stretching from northern to southern Ontario, but the province’s north was expected to get the full force of winter’s wrath.

An orange alert winter storm warning was issued Sunday, with regions including Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Kapuskasing at the time expected to get about 10 to 20 cm of snow and ice pellets between Sunday and Monday morning.

As of midday, an estimated 30 to 50 centimetres of snow had fallen in the region. In fact, about 50 cm had already fallen, reaching from Sault Ste. Marie and Elliott Lake up towards Timmins and communities in between.

That weather isn’t expected to end just yet.

Environment Canada’s orange alert winter storm for communities including Elliott Lake, Sudbury, Manitoulin Island and Timmins remains in effect with more snow or freezing rain expected.

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Sudbury is expected to see six to 12 millimetres of freezing rain with ice buildup that is expected to continue throughout Monday.

Other parts of northern Ontario, including Elliott Lake and Timmins, will see total snowfall amounts of 30 to 50 cm continuing through Monday night, according to Environment Canada.

The agency says while precipitation is mostly snow, there is a chance ice pellets could mix in for areas along a line from Sault Ste. Marie to Kirkland Lake. It notes this could reduce total snowfall amounts in those areas.

The snow is expected to taper off to light snow overnight, but travel is likely to be extremely hazardous with road closures possible. Prolonged, widespread utility outages are also likely.

It’s not only northern Ontario facing more wintry weather.

According to Environment Canada, southern Ontario communities are under snow squall watches. The agency has forecast that Innisfil could see up to 15 cm in lake-effect snow squalls, while other cities, such as Stratford and Owen Sound, could see 20 and 40 cm in places. It’s expected the squalls could begin Monday evening and last into Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Peterborough, Belleville and Kawartha Lakes are also at risk of some accumulating snow, with special weather statements forecasting five to 10 cm between Monday night and into Tuesday morning.

High winds are also in the forecast for southern and southwestern Ontario, with between 70 and 90 km/h gusts expected in some cities, including Toronto, London, Woodstock, Brantford and Windsor.

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Environment Canada is warning of heavy rain and strong winds across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick Monday.

The federal weather agency says most of southern and central New Brunswick and western and eastern Nova Scotia will be impacted.

The system, which will bring 20 to 40 millimetres of rain and up to 70 km/h wind gusts, will begin in New Brunswick come the afternoon; up to 40 to 60 mm of rain is expected near the Fundy coast.

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It will dissipate by Tuesday afternoon.

“Two heavier pulses of rain are expected, with a break in the rain possible in the overnight hours early Tuesday morning,” Environment Canada said.

“Very mild temperatures will result in rapid melting of the remaining snowpack. Rainfall warnings have been issued for parts of southern New Brunswick, and these may be expanded in subsequent forecasts.”

In Nova Scotia, 30 to 50 mm of rain and up to 80 km/h wind gusts are expected to begin in the afternoon. The system will begin in western Nova Scotia before moving to the east coast by the evening.

“The rain and wind will end over western areas Tuesday afternoon and by Tuesday evening over eastern sections of the province,” Environment Canada said.

“Two heavier pulses of rain are expected, with a break in the rain possible in the overnight hours early Tuesday morning. Very mild temperatures will result in rapid melting of the remaining snowpack.”

The agency added residents should continue to monitor alerts and forecasts during the system.

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Winter’s icy and snowy grip continues to impact several parts of Canada, with special weather statements and warnings for every province except Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

On the West Coast, forecasts call for a mixture of snow and rain depending where you live with yellow alert snowfall warnings in place for much of central and western British Columbia.

Places such as Bulkley Valley, inland parts of the North Coast, Prince George and Fort Nelson could see varying amounts of snow between Sunday and Monday.

Most locations are expected to see 10 to 15 centimetres, though Environment Canada warns that inland parts of the Central Coast could see 30 to 40 centimetres between Sunday and Tuesday morning.

Elsewhere, in places such as Metro Vancouver, Coquitlam and West and North Vancouver Island face heavy rains with forecasters warning of a prolonged atmospheric river, prompting the province to issue high streamflow advisories for most coastal areas.

Between 100 and 150 millimetres of rain could fall between Sunday and Wednesday morning with residents urged to be careful of extensive water pooling on roads and even potential wash-outs.

Next door in both northeast and northwest Alberta, residents could face extreme cold with wind chills near -40 C on Sunday morning. Conditions are expected to improve by Sunday afternoon.

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Much of central, eastern and southern Ontario are set for a patchy, wintry mix.

An orange alert winter storm warning is in effect for central Ontario communities, with Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Kapuskasing expected to see between 10 to 20 cm of snowfall and ice pellets between Sunday and Monday morning.

2:03
Powerful wind storm knocks out power, closes highway

Some areas around Sudbury and Manitoulin Island could also see freezing rain with six to 12 millimetres of ice build up. Wind gusts of 70 to 80 km/h are also likely throughout the central region.

A mix of snow and freezing rain is also possible in southern and eastern Ontario. Kawartha Lakes, Barrie and Belleville  are under a special weather statement with forecasts calling for two to eight centimetres of snow.

Cities including Toronto, London, Windsor and Kitchener are more likely to see patchy freezing rain with the possibility of minor ice buildup.

Snowy conditions are also expect in Quebec with yellow and orange alerts for winter storms in place for central and southern parts of the province.

Communities such as Val d’Or, Rouyn-Noranda and Chibougamau can expect 20 to 40 cm of snow between later Sunday and Tuesday morning. Environment Canada says the accumulations will begin as snow before changing into ice pellets and then freezing rain that could leave up to five millimetres of ice.

Other communities, including Temiscaming and Waskaganish, are under yellow alerts, with 15 to 20 cm of snow expected.

Snow is less likely in the Maritimes, but Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are both under special weather statements for heavy rain.

According to Environment Canada, most of southern and central New Brunswick could see between 20 to 40 mm of rain starting on Monday afternoon. It could be accompanied by wind gusts of 60 km/h, though exposed areas could see up to 90 km/h.

Similar conditions are expected in Nova Scotia, though the rainfall ranges from 30 to 50 mm with wind gusts of up to 70 km/h.

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It looks like it’s going to be a wet spring break for parts of B.C.

A strong atmospheric river is forecast to impact coastal British Columbia beginning midday on Sunday, and potentially continuing for several days, Global BC meteorologist Kristi Gordon said.

Current weather models indicate the initial pulse of heavy precipitation will impact the South Coast late Sunday into Monday and continue through much of the week.

According to Environment and Climate Change Canada, rainfall totals from Sunday, March 15 to Wednesday, March 18 include 150 to 200 mm for Howe Sound and the Sea-to-Sky area, 60 to 120 mm for Metro Vancouver, 120 to 180 mm for the North Shore mountains, 60 to 120 mm for the Fraser Valley and 30 to 60 mm for Whistler and Pemberton.

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Gordon says that freezing levels are expected to rise quickly, reaching up to 3,000 metres above sea level by Monday.

Additional runoff from snowmelt is also expected in areas where snow remains on the ground.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued a High Streamflow Advisory for Vancouver Island, the North Shore Mountains and Metro Vancouver tributaries, Howe Sound and the Sea-to-Sky corridor, including Squamish and Pemberton, the Sunshine Coast, the Fraser Valley, Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Terrace, Bella Coola and other coastal communities.

They are advising people to stay away from the fast-flowing rivers and potentially unstable riverbanks.

Gordon said forecast models suggest the potential for multiple rain events, which could extend the period of elevated runoff and river response through the middle of next week or longer.

1:55
Atmospheric river brings flood risk to B.C.

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The wind that swept through the Fraser Valley and Hope, B.C., on Wednesday night was so strong that it tipped semi trucks on their sides.

The trucks were travelling on the Coquihalla Highway, before the Othello Road exit, when it is believed the first few trucks were blown on their sides.

Trucks waiting in the traffic, as the vehicles backed up, were also blown over.

Phil Truscott with Mario’s Towing told Global News that they had already righted nine semi truck trailers by Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Truscott said some of the semis were fully loaded, while others were empty and they had to unload any items in the trailer before standing them back up.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he added.

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In total, about 14 semis were believed to have tipped over.

The Coquihalla Highway was closed for many hours overnight while crews cleared the vehicles.

2:32
Windstorm wreaks havoc across South Coast

Global BC meteorologist Kristi Gordon says peak wind gusts overnight reached 139 km/h in Hope.

Gordon said that it is the same as category 1 hurricane-strength winds.

Abbotsford recorded 85 km/h winds, Agassiz recorded 74 km/h winds, Victoria Gonzales recorded 106 km/h winds and the Coquihalla Summit recorded 87 km/h winds.

The Chilliwack Fire Department said crews responded to 18 calls for service overnight when multiple trees came crashing down onto homes, roads and power lines.

One person suffered minor injuries when a tree struck a vehicle.

“It was chaos out there,” Cultus Lake resident Drew Mctaggart said.

“Branches were flying. And we’ve lived up here for six years… I don’t think I’ve ever seen wind that bad.”

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While there may only be a week left of official winter, Calgary is once again blanketed in snow. Flakes started falling overnight, making for a tricky commute Thursday morning,

According to the Calgary Police Service, there were 12 crashes between midnight and 8 a.m. Thursday, including three injury collisions. Meanwhile, RCMP are advising of winter driving conditions on highways north of the city.

Chris McGeachy with the City of Calgary says crews are out clearing major roads such as Crowchild and Glenmore Trails, as well as Memorial Drive.

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“We’re plowing through lanes and applying material to those routes,” says McGeachy. “We also have a number of hand crews out dealing with pedestrian infrastructure like LRT stations, pathways and pedestrian overpasses.”

City road crews work on rotating shifts into April, and McGeachy says they are monitoring the snowfall and, as long as temperatures stay below zero, they are responding in the same way as any other snow event throughout the winter.

“We’re just reminding people to drive to winter conditions,” says McGeachy. “Although the calendar may say we’re in spring, it is still winter unfortunately on the roads, so we just want to remind people to leave plenty of time to get to where you need to go.”

More snow is expected to fall throughout the day and into Friday.