---
title: "Atmospheric river brings flooding risk to Vancouver, with a stronger storm on the way Saturday"
description: "Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver as an atmospheric river brings heavy rain and wind. A second, more powerful pulse arrives Saturday evening."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/news/atmospheric-river-flooding-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-07T03:04:41.440Z"
---

An atmospheric river is pushing heavy rain across Metro Vancouver on Friday, November 6, bringing flooding risk, wind and power outages with a stronger system on the way Saturday evening.

Environment Canada issued a rainfall warning for West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Coquitlam and the Howe Sound after the storm started around midnight. Environment Canada meteorologist Gary Lee told Vancouver Is Awesome that the region had received around 20 millimetres in Coquitlam and around 24 millimetres on Burnaby Mountain by Friday.

## What is driving the storm

The storm is an atmospheric river with subtropical origins just north of Hawaii. Vancouver Is Awesome reported that it passed over Vancouver Island before reaching the Lower Mainland. A strong west-to-east jet stream across the Pacific is adding to the wind, and the combination has caused power outages along the BC coast and in North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

Lee described this first pulse as a weaker atmospheric river. Periods of heavy rain should continue through Friday, and rainfall totals may exceed 80 millimetres at higher elevations such as the North Shore mountains. The City of Vancouver should see another 10 to 15 millimetres before the first pulse eases.

The BC River Forecast Centre issued a high streamflow advisory for the BC South Coast on November 6. As of Friday, it had not issued any flood warnings, only the advisory.

## A stronger storm arrives Saturday evening

Lee told Vancouver Is Awesome that a second, more potent pulse begins Saturday evening and runs through Sunday morning. That system is expected to bring strong winds and 50 to 150+ millimetres of precipitation, according to the River Forecast Centre advisory. The heaviest amounts are expected at higher terrain and windward slopes, including the North Shore mountains, Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast.

Power outages are possible and likely through the weekend, Vancouver Is Awesome reported.

The first storm should taper off Sunday evening, with a mostly dry Monday. Another storm is then forecast to arrive Tuesday and continue for several days.

## What to do now

Environment Canada's rainfall warning advises Vancouver residents to clear storm drains of fallen leaves before Saturday's storm arrives. Water will likely pool on roads and in low-lying areas, the warning says.

Residents can check the BC River Forecast Centre for updated flood advisories and Environment Canada's forecast for the latest on the Saturday storm, its timing and the expected rainfall totals in their area.

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