Blackouts, school closures, and rising rivers blast B.C.

The biggest storm of the season transformed the South Coast of B.C. from a winter wonderland into a slushy mess overnight Sunday.

More than 40,000 BC Hydro customers lost power as high winds blasted Vancouver Island and the South Coast from Victoria to Hope, while heavy rain washed away the five to 50 centimetres of snow that fell Saturday and Sunday.
 
With 40 to 140 millimetres of rain expected to come down by Monday night, the combination of heavy rain and melting snow promoted government officials to issue a flood watch for Greater Vancouver, South and Central Vancouver Island, Howe Sound and the Lower Fraser valley.
 
Environment Canada's Alyssa Charbonneau said Monday morning the rain that started Sunday night will continue through Monday night, as the weather system won't move beyond the South Coast until late Tuesday. But there is sunshine in the forecast beginning Thursday.
 
The largest power outages were in Courtenay, Comox, Campbell River, Cowichan Valley, the Southern Gulf Islands and across the Fraser Valley. According to the BC Hydro website, people should expect their power back later this afternoon.
 
Schools were reporting closures in Campbell River, the Southern Gulf Islands, Cowichan Valley, Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Comox Valley and the Malaspina University College at its Nanaimo and Parksville campuses.
 
West Vancouver police were asking drivers to avoid the Sea-to-Sky Highway because of deep puddles between Horseshoe Bay and Lion's Bay.