Environment Canada warns of heavy rain

Environment Canada warns that prolonged rains will drench parts of northern B.C. over the weekend, raising the potential for localized flooding. A rainfall warning has been issued for the North and South Peace River regions as the weather office says rainfall of up to 50 millimetres was expected between Friday and late today. Forecasters say total rainfall could reach 60 to 80 mm near Hudson's Hope and Chetwynd before downpours ease to showers as the storm moves on. The warning says heavy rainfall on top of pre-existing saturated soils can make the situation worse and raise the risk of localized flooding. The River Forecast Centre has upgraded a high streamflow advisory to a flood watch for the Peace Region, advising that waterways could reach levels only experienced once a decade as rain combines with continuing snowmelt.