As a result of steady rain this fall, Sooke Lake Reservoir was 100 per cent full on Monday — something that doesn’t usually happen until late December or January.
This is the earliest the reservoir has filled since its dam was raised to increase capacity in 2002.
“It’s definitely a month to six, seven weeks earlier than is normally the case,” said Capital Regional District spokesman Andy Orr. “So far it doesn’t appear that we’ll have any quality issues because of it.”
Monday offered a bit of a reprieve from recent heavy rains in many Vancouver Island communities, although more rain was expected overnight, beginning in the northern and western parts of the Island, in the third consecutive “atmospheric river.”
The first atmospheric river, which refers to a band of moist air, appeared last Thursday and was followed by a second over the weekend.
Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulson said Port Renfrew had a weekend rainfall total of 182 millimetres — well above the 130 mm predicted — and now has an overall November total of 1,004 mm, not counting Tuesday. The wettest November in Port Renfrew on record was in 1995, when 1,158 mm fell.
By contrast, Victoria has had about 800 mm of precipitation since January.
Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce president Karl Ablack said he hadn’t heard any reports of serious flooding. “There’s a couple of low-lying areas where the road has been a bit compromised but nothing dramatic.”
Greater Victoria was forecast to get 25 to 30 mm of rain on the weekend, but ended up slightly over that, with 33.4 mm recorded at Victoria International Airport. Gonzales registered 39 mm for the same period.
Coulson said the new weather system could last more than 48 hours.
Rain forecasts for the capital region over the next few days range from about 20 to 30 mm.
Coulson said the western Island could get 100 to 200 mm of rain — similar to the last few storms.
“They’re saying especially north of Tofino to expect to see the higher end of that rain.”
Ucluelet Mayor Mayco Noel said November has been a true West Coast month for rain, “but it was a bit higher volume than we’re traditionally used to.”
As of Monday morning, Ucluelet had 942 mm of rain in November, he said. “The last year that we had anything equivalent to that much was in 1962 at 825.5.”
Flooding has not been a big problem, Noel said. “We’ve had a little bit here and there, but generally infrastructure and the homes are in good shape,” he said.
“We’re just preparing and cleaning out leaves where they aren’t supposed to be in some culverts.”
North Cowichan communications manager Barb Floden said one good indicator is the fact that rivers in the area crested Sunday morning “and have been dropping ever since.”
“We’re good for now and we’re just keeping an eye on the next system coming in.”
Some people are still waiting to get back to their homes after serious flooding during heavy rainfall mid-month.
After what felt like a flash flood, North Cowichan resident Adam Hill had to flee his rented home with a few belongings and his pet rabbit, and head to his mother’s place.
He is hopeful he can move back Wednesday. “I don’t have the resources to do this all again.”
Some municipalities are still giving out sandbags.
Victoria will have a distribution site today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Topaz Park parking lot, with shovels available for residents to fill their own bags.
Near Sooke, a travel advisory was in place Monday due to flooding at East Sooke and Gillespie roads.
