Atmospheric River Continues to Lash British Columbia & Vancouver Island – Flood Risk Remains High (updated December 14, 2025)
Table of Contents
Vancouver, BC – A persistent atmospheric river continues to batter British Columbia and Vancouver Island, triggering evacuations, wastewater overflows, and widespread disruption. While some advisories have been lifted, the threat of further flooding remains significant as more rainfall is forecast.This is a developing story, and we are providing the latest updates as they become available.
Key Developments (as of Dec 14, 2025):
* Evacuations Underway: As reported by The New York Times on December 11th, torrential rain near Vancouver has already forced hundreds to evacuate. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/11/world/canada/british-columbia-vancouver-floods.html The situation remains fluid, and residents in low-lying areas are urged to monitor local emergency alerts.
* Rainfall & streamflow Warnings: Both Times Colonist and CHEK News are reporting continued rainfall warnings and high-streamflow advisories across Vancouver Island. https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxPUTRoUVE4TWlyS3pWQ1dRblY4R0xiMnlZRmFrc0YtRERuUE92UUYzTXJkRGo1LTgydlg5NFNZLVZjcm1JVllhVlZFeHdmMWd3MGJHRnJwZVVtN0UwbEY2WVJmUTQ1cHV3dzBtQm5Ma0lwWXdwelF2X1ExeVAzNzBaSFJiSkZxeTVSSjFFTThnSEhzSDFqM05oNzdjTFRXa3Q3eFE?oc=5 & [https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxPT1NQb29Sa3U0UThtdk9Sazg1NFE3UmRodk8wTmJhemppcnBNeVVTNGQzMVVfZ1NaTTVEdldMdlpXOTFERDFZSGVQVklPWVExY05zRjJaN0h3UC0ydUNZNk1HNWZQR0pEM0VZWjRjQll2ek94c2c1UnltWHRKdEVyQ0xQZk1ZN3c3VFNaLUc5blZHVlFLMjVnMHJuMkQ1OWc?oc=5](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxPT1NQb29Sa3U0
How might climate change influence the frequency or intensity of atmospheric rivers impacting vancouver island?
Wikipedia‑style Context
Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are narrow, megawatt‑scale corridors of moisture that transport water vapor from the tropical Pacific to mid‑latitude regions. When these streams make landfall on the coast of British Columbia they can release the equivalent of several months of precipitation in a matter of days.The West Coast of Canada,and especially Vancouver Island and the Victoria metropolitan area,sit directly in the path of the prevailing “Pineapple Express” flow,making them the province’s most flood‑prone zones.
The modern scientific record of ARs on Vancouver Island dates back to the early 1970s, when the Canadian Meteorological Center began cataloguing “moisture surges.” The term “atmospheric river” entered the public lexicon in the early 1990s,and the first systematic flood‑risk assessments for the island were completed by Habitat and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in 2006. Since than, ten major AR events (≥ 150 mm of rain in 24 h) have been documented, each prompting a cascade of river‑stage warnings, municipal flood alerts and, increasingly, wastewater‑system overflows.
In the Capital Regional District (CRD) the combination of steep topography,aging combined‑sewer systems,and a growing urban footprint amplifies the hazard.A 2022‑2023 review by the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Management identified that AR‑driven storms accounted for 62 % of all reported sewage overflows in Victoria between 2015 and 2022, with the single largest event occurring on 21 Nov 2022 (58 overflows in 24 h). These overflows, together with river‑bank overtopping, have driven billions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades and emergency‑response spending across the island.
Key Data & Timeline
| Event Date | Peak 24‑h Rainfall (mm) | maximum River Discharge* (m³/s) | Flood Alerts Issued | Wastewater Overflows (Count) | Estimated economic Impact (CAD million) |
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