There will be at least one more big, winter wind storm sweeping across Vancouver Island before Christmas.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement as the next Pacific storm is forecasted to reach the south coast on Thursday.
“There is good consensus among computer weather models that this intense low will move onto the coast on Thursday but details on the exact track and timing remain uncertain at this time,” read a portion of the statement.
“With this system, there is the potential for both damaging winds and heavy rainfall but determining which regions will be most impacted depends on the precise details of the track and timing.”
After Thursday however, the weather may finally let up after a parade of storms have hit the Island since Dec. 9.
“It’s been fairly anomalous that it’s lasted this long and to have this much active weather,” said Armel Castellan, a warning preparedness meteorologist for Environment Canada.
On Dec. 17, winds were recorded at 120 kilometres per hour at Saturna Island — the equivalent of a Category 1 hurricane. Greater Victoria was also under a wind warning that evening as gusts were anticipated to reach 70 kilometres an hour, cancelling ferries and resulting in a rescue by a BC Ferries’ vessel.
READ MORE: More storms brewing for Greater Victoria
“Victoria and the whole south coast is exhibiting very strong active patterns, and we’re expecting that to peak on late Wednesday, early Thursday and through the day,” Castellan said.
Thursday, Dec. 20 will have both wind and rain, with a shift in winds not only from the southeast. The weather is expected to taper off through the weekend, although some showers are still expected.
“Then we have one last pulse on Monday, the 24th, just before Christmas. We’ll see some rain and bit more wind, but nothing like we’ve seen for the past week,” Castellan said. “Then on Christmas Day, it looks like things really taper off and we have a bit of a dry spell for a few days, which will be a nice respite for this 10-day stretch of very active weather.”
Castellan recommends travellers keep their eye on the forecast.
Friday, Dec. 21, will likely see the most wind this weekend in the morning before it dries up in the afternoon. The middle of the day could see a break before Saturday’s rain.
“Look at the latest forecast as you get closer to the event and your travel plans, because this is the kind of weather where because it’s so chaotic, you can’t really look too far ahead and have a high certainty,” he said.
“At least they have the easier weather on the 25th, Boxing Day, the 27th. It will definitely be a bit of a break, a respite.”
READ MORE: Ferry passenger on Sidney boat rescue: ‘It was like the Titanic’
@KeiliBartlettkeili.bartlett@blackpress.ca
