Flood watches cover much of southwestern British Columbia as another storm threatens to bring more than 250 millimetres of rain to some locations, with thousands of customers still without power after damaging weekend weather.

Environment and Climate Change Canada forecast heavy rain for Tuesday and Wednesday, CBC’s Akshay Kulkarni reported. A frontal system was expected to reach Vancouver Island early Tuesday, with moderate precipitation continuing in some areas into Thursday morning.

Orange rainfall warnings, indicating widespread impacts, cover west and central Vancouver Island and the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Forecast totals include 150 to 200 millimetres for west and central Vancouver Island, with locally higher amounts possible, and up to 160 millimetres along the highway and around Howe Sound.

Yellow warnings are in place for Metro Vancouver’s North Shore, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast. The North Shore could receive up to 120 millimetres.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued flood watches for the South Coast, Vancouver Island and river basins in the Central Coast and Fraser Valley. Warm temperatures through Wednesday could also melt shallow snowpacks at higher elevations, adding to runoff.

The centre warned of unstable riverbanks, erosion, submerged roads, swift water, flooding and landslides. It urged people to stay away from fast-running rivers and never drive across flooded roads, bridges or river crossings.

As of Monday night, thousands of B.C. Hydro customers remained without electricity, particularly in the Central Interior and northern Vancouver Island. The utility said fallen trees, debris and soft ground were slowing repair crews as it monitored the approaching weather systems.

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