The Englishman River system is subject of a flood watch due to an increased flow rate and considerable rainfall in the region. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

swift water

Flood watch in place for Englishman River system near Parksville

Oct 18, 2023 | 12:11 PM

PARKSVILLE — Heavy rainfall overnight and continued downpours in the forecast forced an upgrade in flood watches for the region.

The B.C. River Forecast System, part of the ministry of forests, issued a series of high stream flow advisories for Island watersheds on Wednesday, Oct. 18 before 10 a.m. then later upgraded the Englishman River to a flood watch at 11:45 a.m.

An advisory from the province said rivers are reaching upwards of 10-year-return levels, while many other waterways are approaching two year flows.

“Flows on the Englishman River near Parksville are currently at 62 cubic metres per second and are forecast to reach 260 cubic metres per second later today or tomorrow, with flows up to 375 cubic metres per second possible,” noted the advisory.

While a high stream flow advisory indicates river levels rising and fast-flowing bodies may be unsafe, little flooding is expected.

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A flood watch, however, means levels are expected to approach or potentially exceed banks and flooding of areas next to rivers may occur.

The next level is a flood warning, which has not been issued to date, and indicated imminent flooding around rivers is expected.

An atmospheric river is bringing considerable moisture to a parched Island region.

Rainfall amounts have ranged between 70 to 130 millimetres on western Vancouver Island since Tuesday, with 20 to 90 millimetres falling over the same time on the eastern Island.

Forecasters expect the storm to stall overnight and drop more rain with total amounts close to 250 millimetres on parts of western Vancouver Island and 120 millimetres on the east.

A flood watch for the west side of Vancouver Island was issued late Wednesday morning.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre issued a flood watch for the Englishman River system, west of Parksville, on Wednesday morning. (BC Government)

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