Two more weather systems are heading for Whistler this week and over the weekend.
"Another round of heavy rain is on the way," says an Environment Canada weather alert for the resort. We can expect 40 to 80 millimetres of rain starting today and lasting through Friday.
"The next storm system is set to arrive on the B.C. south coast overnight Wednesday," states the alert. "This storm will be shorter lived and less intense than the event over November 13-15, 2021. However, it will still bring moderate to heavy rain and strong winds. Additionally, freezing levels will rise above mountain tops on Thursday. This may worsen recent flooding and impact vulnerable landscapes and infrastructure."
Whistler was spared the worst of the rain from the last atmospheric river system, which forced thousands from their homes across B.C., claimed the lives of at least four people in mudslides and killed hundreds of farm animals in the Fraser Valley.
The Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) is asking that residents be prepared, and as a precautionary measure to mitigate possible localized flooding, it's reminding residents to clear ditches and driveway culverts.
A public self-serve sandbag station will be available after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at the Public Works Yard, located at 8020 Nesters Road (formerly 8001 Highway 99). Bags, shovels, and sand will be provided onsite for use.
All residents and resort guests are also advised to subscribe to WhistlerAlert, the RMOW’s emergency notification system, to receive real time notifications via phone, text and email. For more information and instructions for subscribing, visit whistler.ca/WhistlerAlert.
To report urgent road or localized flooding issues, contact the Roads Department report line at (604) 935-8300 or email [email protected].
The RMOW is reminding all residents to have a household 72-hour emergency supply kit with the following items:
- Non-perishable food: minimum three-day to one-week supply, with a manual can opener
- Water: four litres per person, per day for drinking and sanitation
- Phone charger, battery bank or inverter
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Battery-powered or hand-crank flashlight
- Extra batteries
- First-aid kit and medications
- Personal toiletries and items, such as an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
- Copy of your emergency plan
- Copies of important documents, such as insurance papers and identification
- Whistle
For more flood preparedness measures, visit PreparedBC’s website.
For updates related to local impacts and weather, continue to monitor whistler.ca and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s website.
