Video: Heavy rains cause flooding, some damage in qathet region

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) issued a severe thunderstorm warning for sḵelhp (Saltery Bay) to Powell River on Wednesday, August 6. However, many residents and businesses were caught off guard with just how much heavy rain fell in a short amount of time, causing roof and road damage and flooding. 

Darren Nivens told the Peak he was driving in the Quality Foods area in Westview when he saw a very high tide, which he said didn't allow storm drains to empty; the drains backed up as a result. 

Aires Forster was driving in the Powell River Town Centre mall area yesterday when she took a video of high waters accumulating near Winners. The mall posted on Facebook today (August 7), that most of the mall’s businesses were closed, but Walmart has reopened.

Forest Bistro and Lounge owner John Walls reported to the Peak that some roof damage at his Marine Avenue location was caused by the heavy rain and wind. He said the roof may need to be replaced or patched up. 

Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada Brian Proctor said that 44.1 millimetres of precipitation was recorded yesterday at Powell River Airport (YPW).

"It really all fell in about a two to three hour period," added Proctor. "The majority of that precipitation fell in a one hour period, which gives you an idea of why we saw some of that flooding in some of the areas around Powell River."

He said although this amount of rain is unusual in general terms, the ground needed it. 

"We needed that moisture," said Proctor. "So it's probably a good news story in the longer term."

Proctor told the Peak that the previous daily record for August 6, was 41.1 millimetres of precipitation falling in Powell River, set in 1953.

"The all time record for Powell River was 46.5 millimetres, set on August 31 in 1936," said Proctor.

He said it was unusual for this area to see this kind of heavy rainfall.

"What it was due to, in this context, was a really vigorous thunderstorm that came down the eastern slopes of Vancouver Island forming north of Comox, Campbell River area," said Proctor. "It then swept across northern Georgia Strait and came on shore again in the Powell River area."

He said it's not usual for the northern Sunshine Coast to see this sort of thunderstorm coming in with the northwest flow. "It's not typically something we see,” said Proctor, “but to see this amount of precipitation in this short of a period of time was very, very impressive.”

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