Drive B.C. has issued a rainfall warning for the 10.4-kilometre stretch of Highway 4 between Cathedral Grove and Koen Road.
The advisory warns that heavy rain could send debris onto the highway. The affected stretch is in the area of the Cameron Bluffs wildfire that burned during the summer and destabilized the ground. Extensive rock scaling was done to address the problem.
Motorists are advised to drive with caution and be prepared for unplanned closures.
Environment Canada has issued rainfall warnings for much of Vancouver Island, with Tofino expected to receive up to 200 millimetres of rain by Wednesday night.
On east Vancouver Island, the rainfall total from Campbell River to Fanny Bay could reach 90 mm.
The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued flood watches for the lower half of western Vancouver Island — when rising river levels “may approach or may exceed” their banks, possibly flooding adjacent areas.
The rest of the Island remains under high streamflow advisories. River levels are expected to rise rapidly but no major flooding is expected, though minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible, according to the centre.
Comox Valley Search and Rescue warned of higher-than-normal flows on the Puntledge River, saying B.C. Hydro had asked people to stay away from the river. "Please stay away from the fast flowing water over the next week," the search group said on social media. "Currents will be strong and dangerous."
Environment Canada expects the rain to persist through Wednesday, delivering rainfall into the evening.
— With a file from Stefan Labbé, Glacier Media
