B.C.’s River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for the south and central coasts, while Environment Canada has upgraded its special weather statement over the region to a rainfall warning, with mountainous areas of Vancouver Island expected to get more than 200 millimetres of precipitation.

Forecasters have raised alerts for an impending atmospheric river system expected to strike coastal British Columbia on Friday, with significant flooding, heavy rainfall, and high winds anticipated. The River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for the south and central coasts,

The first atmospheric river of the season will bring widespread rain and snow to higher terrain in Washington.

Voters along the south coast of British Columbia who have not cast their ballots yet will have to contend with heavy rain and high winds from an incoming atmospheric river weather system on election day.

B.C. residents will need to beware the risk for additional flooding and other potential impacts, including road washouts, rockfalls, and even landslides where the heavier rain continues to fall on Sunday.

An atmospheric river weather system is drenching coastal British Columbia, triggering localized flooding as voters head to the polls for the provincial election.