Upwards of 30-50 millimetres is expected to fall on the eastern portions of Vancouver Island on Friday, Sept. 17, the first major storm of the fall season. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

UMBRELLA TIME

Heavy, torrential rain expected for Nanaimo, Oceanside

Sep 17, 2021 | 5:29 AM

NANAIMO — The year’s first fall storm is upon us.

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for parts of eastern Vancouver Island and is forecasting between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain through Friday, Sept. 17, depending on location.

Meterologist Armel Castellan told NanaimoNewsNOW it’s not just the volume of rain expected, but its projected intensity which could be problematic.

“We talk about the overall number of millimetres that are going to fall throughout this event, early Friday morning through Friday evening…but what’s actually key and sometimes the real crux when the type of flooding or the debris flows…occur during the couple of hours when the rain is at its highest.”

Areas of western Vancouver Island will bare the brunt of the storm with Port Renfrew and parts north expecting over 100 millimetres.

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Castellan expects the Nanaimo and Oceanside regions to see heaviest rainfalls starting Friday around 1 p.m. and lasting through to 6 p.m.

Upwards of 10 millimetres per hour is expected during that time.

“Anytime you get above three or four millimetres per hour, it’s that heavy rain. When we get above 10 millimetres per hour that’s when it gets a little more dangerous, the eco-system has to deal with it.”

Localized flooding is a distinct possibility from the volume of rainfall over ground which has had little moisture for several months.

Summer 2021 was the 10th driest on record from the monitoring station at Nanaimo Airport and proceeded the fourth driest spring on record.

Heavy winds are also expected to accompany the rain with downed branches and potential power outages.

Castellan said areas facing the southwest would be particularly exposed to oncoming winds.

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alex.rawnsley@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley