Pouring rain caused flooding — traffic disruptions — across B.C.'s South Coast
Expo Line SkyTrain up and running after Columbia Station closed for more than 2 hours
Pouring rain across B.C.'s South Coast caused flooding, closures, traffic disruptions and SkyTrain delays Tuesday afternoon.
Much of the South Coast, including Metro Vancouver, was under a rainfall warning for most of the day.
Environment Canada said rainfall amounts of 40 to 60 millimetres were expected by late afternoon for Howe Sound, the North Shore — including West Vancouver and North Vancouver — and Metro Vancouver, including Coquitlam and Maple Ridge.
SkyTrain resumes normal service
The rain caused localized flooding which disrupted traffic in the area, including the suspension around 2 p.m. of SkyTrain's Expo Line service between Columbia Station and Sapperton Station and between Columbia and Scott Road stations.
Bus bridges were set up between the affected stations.
Regular service resumed around 4:30 p.m. but delays are expected to continue for some time.
Chris Bryan, a spokesperson for TransLink, said the floods have caused "a real headache for customers."
"We have a lot of standing water, and it got to the point where we had to stop trains running through there," Bryan said.
Here's what it looked like in the Columbia Tunnel an hour ago. Crews are on scene pumping water out of the tunnel and it has subsided substantially. Stay tuned for further updates. ^at <a href="https://t.co/rVQ8Pfqr8D">pic.twitter.com/rVQ8Pfqr8D</a>
—@TransLinkCities across the Metro Vancouver are reporting difficult road conditions including flooding and stalls.
ALERT: King George Blvd is flooded coming off the Pattullo Bridge into Surrey, avoid the area if possible <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SurreyBC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SurreyBC</a> ^ts <a href="https://t.co/gD1YC1pHNn">pic.twitter.com/gD1YC1pHNn</a>
—@SurreyTrafficPlease be aware of all the puddles while driving. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/flood?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#flood</a> everywhere 😱 Please drive safely and slowly. ☔️🌧 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/preventcollisions?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#preventcollisions</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SafetyFirst?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SafetyFirst</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/icbc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@icbc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TransitPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TransitPolice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cityofcoquitlam?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cityofcoquitlam</a> <a href="https://t.co/XrFAEy4AX5">pic.twitter.com/XrFAEy4AX5</a>
—@CstJChung274In Surrey, cars ploughed through huge puddles on King George Boulevard and 128th Street as well as westbound on Highway 1 at 160 Street.
Victoria sewage overflows
On Vancouver Island, heavy rain combined with overflowing stormwater and wastewater along some shorelines in Greater Victoria.
The Capital Regional District is asking residents to avoid entering the water along the shoreline in Oak Bay, Saanich, and Esquimalt because of potential contamination.
CBC senior meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe says the rain should ease off in most areas by evening.