A short-lived tornado watch for parts of the coast has been lifted, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a lot of wind in the days ahead.
Environment Canada posted a tornado watch for Metro Vancouver and the North Shore late Saturday afternoon only to rescind it shortly after — though there were reports of a water spout over the water off the Vancouver International Airport.
A special weather statement says a powerful windstorm is expected starting Monday.
The wind warning covers much of Vancouver Island, the Southern Gulf Islands, and coastal B.C., Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, and the wild weather is predicted for Monday overnight into Tuesday morning.
On Sunday, Environment Canada was warning of strong winds of up to 110 kilometres an hour Monday and Tuesday.
An approaching weather system is expected to generate strong southeast winds over the west coast of Vancouver Island, Central Coast and Haida Gwaii beginning Monday evening. Inner south coast waters will fare better, with winds of up to 80 km/h.
The weather system is expected to remain very intense on Tuesday, with continuing blustery conditions.
What the storm will do as it hits coastal B.C. is still unclear, says Environment Canada in the weather statement.
“There remains some uncertainty as to the exact strength of these winds, as some weather prediction models are suggesting the potential for a secondary low-pressure system to cross Vancouver Island, south of the main low-pressure system. In this scenario, the winds will be at their strongest and warning level criteria will be met.”
If that second system moves instead into Washington state or through Juan de Fuca Strait, the winds won’t be as strong, though “it will still be a blustery morning.”
You can follow the progress of the wind event on Twitter by using #BCStorm.
— With a file from the Times Colonist
