Flood and avalanche risks rise as heavy rain and wind hit B.C. South Coast

Rain and wind warnings cover much of Vancouver Island and the inner South Coast as the remnants of a storm that brought flooding to California now hammers southern British Columbia.

Environment Canada estimates total rainfall of 50 to 100 millimetres before conditions ease Friday.

The weather office warns heavy downpours can spawn flash floods, while winds gusting to 90 km/h over northern Vancouver Island and the Greater Victoria region could cause damage or power outages.

Avalanche Canada says the storm will create "very dangerous avalanche conditions" on coastal and Vancouver Island mountains and has raised the avalanche risk to "high" in those areas.

It warns that up to 35 centimetres of new snow has fallen since Monday, covering a deeply buried thin and breakable crust and it urges backcountry users to avoid avalanche terrain during the ongoing storm.

The River Forecast Centre has posted high streamflow advisories across Vancouver Island, Howe Sound, Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley, sayingdownpours and rising freezing levels will raise the potential for low-lying flooding before waterways peak Friday.

On Vancouver Island, B.C. Hydro says heavy rains have raised reservoir levels at the Comox Dam, and it's now releasing extra water into the Puntledge River. The utility isasking people in the Courtenay-Comox area not to go near the river for the next week or so.

B.C. Hydro's Steven Watson said excess water is being released at "up to five times the normal flow rate." He says sirens and temporary signage are in place along the river, and there's a risk of localized flooding in the region before B.C. Hydro reduces the water flowduring Friday morning'shigh tide.

Meanwhile, emergency shelter operators on the island saydoors are open for vulnerable people stuck in the heavy rain. The Port AlberniShelter Society says it's Overdose Prevention Site, at3699 Third Ave.and its Sobering Centre, at3628 Fifth Ave.were open as shelter sites on Thursday.