Storm closes 3 Mission schools

Heavy rain is drenching the South Coast of B.C. on Tuesday morning, flooding many roads and knocking out power to about 5,300 BC Hydro customers inMission, Powell River, Courtenay and Port Hardy.

Environment Canada issued a severe weather warning for many areas of the South Coast after the storm brought high windsand more than 30 millimetresof rain to Metro Vancouver overnight Monday,warning another30 to 40 millimetres of rain was expected on Tuesday.

The Mission School District said Albert McMahon, Cherry Hill and Durieu Elementary Schools will be closedon Tuesday because ofthe power outages.

The storm has also raised avalanche conditions on the South Coast to high, as much of the precipitation falls as snow in the mountains.