Up to 100 mm of rain in store for parts of Metro Vancouver this weekend

In this file photo, a man carries an umbrella while walking as rain falls in downtown Vancouver, B.C., on Monday April 7, 2014. (Darryl Dyck/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

It’s going to be a very wet weekend for parts of Metro Vancouver, according to Environment Canada.

The federal weather agency has issued rainfall warnings for North and West Vancouver, the Tri-Cities, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.

It says a “series of moderate rainfall systems” are arriving in the region Friday and will bring 20 to 50 millimetres of rain each day of the weekend, with the most precipitation expected on Saturday.

The total rainfall over the weekend may reach near 100 millimetres, according to forecasters.

“After a stretch of a drier period, checking on the drainage and removing tree leaves or objects blocking the drainage may prevent water pooling or localized flooding in low-lying areas,” the alert reads.

“If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance.”

Rain is in the forecast for other areas of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island this weekend, but Environment Canada has only issued warnings for the North Shore, northeastern Metro Vancouver and Howe Sound as of Friday afternoon.

A high streamflow advisory is in place for much of B.C.’s South Coast, including the lower half of Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast and Howe Sound, which means minor flooding in low-lying areas can happen.

In addition, avalanche danger is high in parts of the region including Vancouver Island, the North Shore mountains and the Sunshine Coast due to rising temperatures and heavy precipitation, according to Avalanche Canada.