Region braces for flooding after being strangled by snow

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METRO VANCOUVER -- City workers across Metro Vancouver are bracing for potential floods Tuesday after a heavy rainfall was predicted to strike the region.

A heavier-than-expected rainfall is expected to fall Tuesday, melting the masses of slush and snow that has accumulated across Metro Vancouver since Dec. 12 and creating flooding on nearby roads.

Environment Canada meteorologist Mark Madryga said up to 20 millimetres of rain is expected to fall in Metro Vancouver on Tuesday, with up 100 mm in the region by Thursday, as the temperature warms up. "The mild air is starting to push in and it'll be rain not snow. We're confident about that," he said.

"It'll get a lot milder, which will mean some pretty rapid snow melt."

He said the North Shore mountains will likely get a heavy snowfall on Tuesday, followed by rain later on. Temperatures are expected to rise to about 10 C for the Fraser Valley, Metro Vancouver and Victoria.

In Vancouver, about 800 workers were racing to clear snow from drains, sewers and sidewalk intersections Monday to prevent runoff into the streets. About 30 people were doing the same job in Burnaby.

In some areas, the slush was so thick it plugged storm sewer drains.

“Torrential rains are on the way. That’s going to be very interesting as to how that plays out,” said Murray Wightman, manager of street operations for the City of Vancouver. "It's very concerning. There's going to be a lot of water around with the snow we've got and the rain...the only saving grace is we've got pretty everyone back from holiday.

"It's very concerning. There's going to be a lot of water around ... if this rain hits with the intensity Environment Canada says it will, we’re going to be busy.”

The heavy rainfall comes after a surprise snowfall Sunday night that caused chaos during the Monday morning commute. Roads such as Granville and Oak, which were barricaded overnight, were reopened for the morning's commute but were slippery and slushy.

Parents wanting to drop their children off at Port Moody Secondary snaked down the hill and along the Barnet Highway, and tangled up commuters heading down the one lane open on Clark Road Hill.

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