Extensive flooding, mainly through the Lower Mainland, was the result of an atmospheric river in mid-November. Environment Canada is looking to provide better warning for future storms. (The Canadian Press)

By Jordan Davidson

rivers in the sky

Grading system for severity of ‘atmospheric rivers’ expected by early 2022

Nov 25, 2021 | 4:44 PM

NANAIMO — B.C residents are getting used to hearing new terms for storms like ‘atmospheric river’ but Environment Canada is looking to further define the latest weather buzz word.

Environment Canada and the federal government confirmed they are working together on a system which would classify atmospheric rivers to better warn residents who may be in their path of the severity of the storm.

The scale would clarify mild effects like puddles on roads to more severe outcomes such as mudslides and road washouts.

“That will assist us greatly in getting an understanding of exactly what the nature of an atmospheric river is,” Mike Farnworth, B.C. public safety minister said earlier this week. “It is a new term that I think most of us now are becoming familiar with.”

The scale would be similar to a ranking system in the United States.

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Farnworth said they hope to have this new grading system in place in early Jan. 2022.

According to Environment Canada, atmospheric rivers are long, slender regions in the atmosphere which transport water vapour in weather patterns and dumps the moisture in the form of rain or snow once it hits land. They are also revered to as rivers in the sky.

The latest atmospheric river coming into B.C. and Washington state from the Pacific on Thursday, Nov. 25. (Environment Canada)

Nanaimo Airport recorded 142.1 millimetres of rain between Nov. 13 and 15, while a monitoring station at Qualicum Beach Airport measured 91.8 millimetres over the same time period.

Environment Canada is tracking three storms expected to hit various parts of the Island over the next week or so, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 24.

Around 40 to 50 millimetres of rain are expected from the first two storms, with the third one packing more of a moisture punch than the first two.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow