A spring storm in B.C. has caused mudslides and prompted Environment Canada to issue a flood warning for southern parts of the province.
The rain expected to drench the lower mainland is the equivalent of how much rain B.C. should get in the entire month of March.
"This storm, by the time it's pushed through, will probably have left between about 15 to 150 millimetres of rain across the south coast. Here in Greater Vancouver, we're talking anywhere from 50 at the airport, to probably 110 in the hardest hit areas," Dave Jones, a spokesperson for Environment Canada, told CTV British Columbia.
The heavy rains have already caused trees to crash onto the Barnett Highway, causing it to close temporarily. The mudslide also knocked out power to about 2,200 customers in North Burnaby.
Besides the heavy rainfall, snow melt and wet antecedent conditions caused the Nicomekl River and other areas to flood.
"What's happened along with the rain is the freezing elevation has gone up to about 2,000 metres, which means you're getting some snow melt. And that snow melt is adding to the rain fall and adding more water," said Allan Chapman of the Victoria River Forecast Centre.
A high streamflow advisory has been issued for Greater Vancouver, the Lower Fraser Valley and Howe Sound by B.C.'s River Forecast Centre.
"After this storm rolls through, if we get a couple more storms later next week we may set a record for all-time March rainfall," Chapman said.
Residents of North Vancouver are being advised to stay away from waterways.
One farmer in Surrey estimates he lost half of his blueberry crop due to flooding.
"They did lots of damage this year," farmer Paul Kajla told CTV British Columbia.
Residents living in southern areas of the province will be keeping a watchful eye on conditions as the storm makes its way through.
"Obviously with the amount of precipitation that we've had over this winter, the saturation levels in the ground is up and it's not taking any water right now so the creek levels rise very quickly when it rains like this," Terry Veer, manager of Langley Roads and Drainage, told CTV.
Two weeks ago, heavy rains triggered numerous mudslides, which shut down parts of the TransCanada Highway near Chilliwack, B.C.
The same storm flooded 170 properties in Maple Ridge. Officials in the area are warning the same areas will be most likely be affected by this storm front. Maple Ridge residents are being offered sand bags in preparation.
Earlier this week, forestry experts warned the B.C. government that urgent action was needed to prevent flooding in areas ravaged by the mountain pine beetle epidemic.
Flat-terrained watersheds, which are covered mostly by pine and are clearcut to remove dead trees affected by the beetle, are most likely to cause flooding.
It's estimated that by the time the infestation runs its course in 2013, 80 per cent of the B.C. Interior's pine will be dead.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Michele Brunoro
