British Columbia

Rainfall warning issued for Lower Mainland

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for the Lower Mainland, including the Fraser Valley, with downpours expected to start Sunday and last until Monday night.

Up to 80 mm of rain could fall in Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound and the western Fraser Valley

A shopper strolls past an umbrella store on Granville Island. A storm is set to move through the Metro Vancouver region on Sunday and rain is expected to stay until Monday night. (David Horemans/CBC)

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for parts of southwest British Columbia, with downpours expected to start Sunday and last until Monday night.

Forecasters say 50 to 80 millimetres of rain will fall on Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound and the western Fraser Valley, as part of a storm moving through the region.

The rain is expected to be heaviest near the mountains in the northern part of the region, including the North Shore, Tri-Cities, and Howe Sound.

The forecaster says localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible, and that commuters should be cautious of water pooling on roads.

Avalanche risk

Meanwhile, Avalanche Canada has issued a high risk avalanche warning for the South Coast on Monday.

This means conditions are likely to cause large natural avalanches and and human-triggered avalanches are "very likely" on regional mountains.

People are asked to stay away from avalanche terrain and stay in low-angle, well supported terrain with no overhead hazard for their own protection.