British Columbia

Rainfall warning for B.C.'s North Coast as power remains out for hundreds further south

Environment Canada is warning of heavy rain on British Columbia's North Coast, while hundreds of homes remain without power across the South Coast after strong winds on Monday.

Up to 130 mm expected to hit Prince Rupert, Kitimat

A ship in the ocean with rain.
A container ship in high winds and rain off Prince Rupert, B.C., pictured in November 2021. Environment Canada has issued a heavy rainfall warning for the North Coast city for Wednesday into Thursday morning. (Submitted by Sara Ridgway)

Environment Canada is warning of heavy rain on British Columbia's North Coast, while hundreds of homes remain without power across the South Coast after strong winds on Monday.

The weather office says total rainfall amounts of 110-130 millimetres are expected into Thursday morning on the North Coast, including Prince Rupert.

It says inland areas will see 70-110 millimetres of rain before the downpours ease.

Further south, power has been restored for the vast majority of 290,000 B.C. Hydro customers who were in the dark at some point on Monday as strong winds battered coastal areas and parts of the Interior. 

The utility said just over 2,000 customers remained without power in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island as of 1 p.m. PT, though it expected to have the lights back on for most later Wednesday.

It said additional crews have been called in to help with repair efforts in Sechelt and West Vancouver, as well as nearby Gambier and Keats islands.

An update on the B.C. Hydro website says the work includes clearing trees and vegetation, and repairing broken power poles and lines.