Severe weather

Severe weather and natural disasters caused more than $3 billion in insured damages for the second year in a row in 2023. The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. wildfires burn big chunk of more than $3B in 2023 insurance claims

National insurance weather-related claim total last year was the 4th-highest on record

Severe weather and natural disasters caused more than $3 billion in insured damages for the second year in a row in 2023. The McDougall Creek wildfire burns on the mountainside above houses in West Kelowna, B.C., Friday, Aug. 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Motorists travel on the snow-covered Cambie Bridge as freezing rain falls in Vancouver, on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Parts of inland B.C. could be getting a 50-cm dump of snow

Highway warnings up with blizzard conditions forecast in some regions

Motorists travel on the snow-covered Cambie Bridge as freezing rain falls in Vancouver, on Friday, Dec. 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation has issued travel advisories for two major highways in the province with up to 20 centimetres of snow in the forecast. A man pauses while digging out snow from under a car stuck on a street in the aftermath of a snowstorm, in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Expected big dump of snow triggers travel advisories for B.C. highways

Squamish to Whistler and Grand Forks to Creston expected to be treacherous today and overnight

British Columbia’s Ministry of Transportation has issued travel advisories for two major highways in the province with up to 20 centimetres of snow in the forecast. A man pauses while digging out snow from under a car stuck on a street in the aftermath of a snowstorm, in Vancouver, B.C., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Parts of southwestern British Columbia remain under a rainfall warning as a potent atmospheric river made landfall along the province’s coast Monday. A pedestrian uses an umbrella to shield themselves from the rain while walking in downtown Vancouver, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Flood watches up, driving cautions out as atmospheric river flows over B.C.

Some warnings remain as system passes coast, winter storm conditions persist in the southeast

Parts of southwestern British Columbia remain under a rainfall warning as a potent atmospheric river made landfall along the province’s coast Monday. A pedestrian uses an umbrella to shield themselves from the rain while walking in downtown Vancouver, on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Much of British Columbia’s south coast is bracing for stormy weather as Environment Canada says a “potent and impactful” storm will bring heavy rain. A pedestrian carries an umbrella as light rain falls in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, October 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘Potent and impactful’ rain, wind, snow and high tides converging on B.C.

Coastal, southern B.C. face weather warnings with incoming ‘atmospheric river’

Much of British Columbia’s south coast is bracing for stormy weather as Environment Canada says a “potent and impactful” storm will bring heavy rain. A pedestrian carries an umbrella as light rain falls in Surrey, B.C., on Friday, October 21, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Storm clouds seen in Penticton just before the arrival of a large thunderstorm. (Phil McLachlan - Western News) Storm clouds seen in Penticton June 12, just before the arrival of a large thunderstorm. (Phil McLachlan - Western News)

B.C.’s south coast bracing as atmospheric river looms

Environment Canada is forecasting a series of storms bringing heavy rain until Thursday

Storm clouds seen in Penticton just before the arrival of a large thunderstorm. (Phil McLachlan - Western News) Storm clouds seen in Penticton June 12, just before the arrival of a large thunderstorm. (Phil McLachlan - Western News)
Firefighters and scuba divers search for bodies near sunken boats at a yacht club in Acapulco, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, following Hurricane Otis. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Hurricane Otis death toll rises to 48, missing now number 36 as search and recovery work continues

At least 48 people died when Category 5 Hurricane Otis slammed into…

Firefighters and scuba divers search for bodies near sunken boats at a yacht club in Acapulco, Mexico, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, following Hurricane Otis. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)
A tourist rides a horse at a beach in Acapulco, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Hurricane Otis has strengthened from tropical storm to a major hurricane in a matter of hours as it approaches Mexico’s southern Pacific coast where it was forecast to make landfall near the resort of Acapulco early Wednesday. (AP Photo/Bernardino Hernandez)

Hurricane Otis weakens over southern Mexico after battering Acapulco

Hurricane Otis slammed into Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a catastrophic Category…

A tourist rides a horse at a beach in Acapulco, Mexico, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. Hurricane Otis has strengthened from tropical storm to a major hurricane in a matter of hours as it approaches Mexico’s southern Pacific coast where it was forecast to make landfall near the resort of Acapulco early Wednesday. (AP Photo/Bernardino Hernandez)
Rainfall warnings across Vancouver Island and the inner south coast have lifted in most areas, but the effects of British Columbia’s first atmospheric river of autumn could take a little longer to ease. Women use umbrellas as they walk up steps during heavy rainfall in New Westminster, B.C., on Friday July 20, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. rivers still rising as atmospheric river passes from south coast

Accumulations mark the heaviest downpours across the south coast in almost a year

Rainfall warnings across Vancouver Island and the inner south coast have lifted in most areas, but the effects of British Columbia’s first atmospheric river of autumn could take a little longer to ease. Women use umbrellas as they walk up steps during heavy rainfall in New Westminster, B.C., on Friday July 20, 2012. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People walk along Gorge Rd. during rainshowers in Victoria, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. British Columbia’s south coast is weathering its first atmospheric river of the fall and the province’s Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness says residents should prepare for increased rainfall and the chance of flooding.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Firehose of sub-tropical moisture takes aim at B.C. coast

More than 200 millimetres of rain could fall along sections of western Vancouver Island

People walk along Gorge Rd. during rainshowers in Victoria, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. British Columbia’s south coast is weathering its first atmospheric river of the fall and the province’s Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness says residents should prepare for increased rainfall and the chance of flooding.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
This satellite image provided by NOAA on Monday, Oct. 2 2023 shows Tropical Storm Philippe, center right. Philippe is threatening to unleash heavy rains and flash flooding in the Leeward Islands on Monday before eventually recurving out into the central Atlantic where it could gain hurricane status around midweek, forecasters say. (NOAA via AP)

Tropical Storm Philippe drenches Bermuda en route to Atlantic Canada and New England

The outer bands of Tropical Storm Philippe lashed Bermuda on Friday as…

This satellite image provided by NOAA on Monday, Oct. 2 2023 shows Tropical Storm Philippe, center right. Philippe is threatening to unleash heavy rains and flash flooding in the Leeward Islands on Monday before eventually recurving out into the central Atlantic where it could gain hurricane status around midweek, forecasters say. (NOAA via AP)
A man struggles with an umbrella in the wind as rain falls in Vancouver, on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Wind warnings lifted as fall storm passes from most of coastal B.C.

Streamflow advisories remain as parts of Vancouver Island could receive 150 mm of rain

A man struggles with an umbrella in the wind as rain falls in Vancouver, on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Waves come ashore, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Hampton Beach, N.H. Severe conditions were predicted across parts of New England and hurricane conditions could hit the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where the storm, Lee, downgraded early Saturday from hurricane to post-tropical cyclone, was expected to make landfall later in the day.(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Atlantic storm Lee delivers high winds and rain before warnings called off

Forecasters predict it will disappear early this week

Waves come ashore, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2023, in Hampton Beach, N.H. Severe conditions were predicted across parts of New England and hurricane conditions could hit the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, where the storm, Lee, downgraded early Saturday from hurricane to post-tropical cyclone, was expected to make landfall later in the day.(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
This satellite image provided by CSU/CIRA-NOAA shows hurricane Lee in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday, September 15, 2023. Residents of the Maritimes are being warned to prepare for damaging winds, large waves, flooding and power outages as hurricane Lee is expected to transform into a large, powerful post-tropical storm Saturday after entering Canadian waters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-CSU/CIRA-NOAA

Hurricane watch extended as Lee looms large over Atlantic Canada

Hurricane Lee is expected to move into western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick Saturday

This satellite image provided by CSU/CIRA-NOAA shows hurricane Lee in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday, September 15, 2023. Residents of the Maritimes are being warned to prepare for damaging winds, large waves, flooding and power outages as hurricane Lee is expected to transform into a large, powerful post-tropical storm Saturday after entering Canadian waters. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-CSU/CIRA-NOAA
Residents of western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick are being warned to prepare for power outages and localized flooding as hurricane Lee is expected to transition to a powerful post-tropical storm on Saturday as it makes landfall in the region. This photo provided by Austin Rebello shows fallen trees from a storm that passed on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Killingly, Conn. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Austin Rebello

Parts of Atlantic Canada under hurricane watch as Lee heads to landfall

Residents warned of possible outages, flooding in western Nova Scotia, southern New Brunswick

Residents of western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick are being warned to prepare for power outages and localized flooding as hurricane Lee is expected to transition to a powerful post-tropical storm on Saturday as it makes landfall in the region. This photo provided by Austin Rebello shows fallen trees from a storm that passed on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 in Killingly, Conn. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-HO, Austin Rebello
This satellite image provided by CIRA/NOAA shows hurricane Lee in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, September 11, 2023. The Canadian Hurricane Centre says hurricane Lee could make landfall this weekend anywhere from Maine to southeastern Nova Scotia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-CIRA/NOAA

Hurricane Lee expected to land this weekend in Maine or Nova Scotia

Category 3 storm gathering near Bermuda, headed for Canada’s East Coast

This satellite image provided by CIRA/NOAA shows hurricane Lee in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday, September 11, 2023. The Canadian Hurricane Centre says hurricane Lee could make landfall this weekend anywhere from Maine to southeastern Nova Scotia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-CIRA/NOAA
This satellite image provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Lee, right, in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at 4:50 p.m. EDT. Though the track of hurricane Lee remains unclear, anxiety created by powerful storms is a growing reality on the East Coast — especially in communities that felt Fiona’s wrath last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-NOAA via AP

Canada’s watchful east coast tracking Hurricane Lee

Unease present in the wake of the devastation wrought by Fiona last year

This satellite image provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration shows Hurricane Lee, right, in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at 4:50 p.m. EDT. Though the track of hurricane Lee remains unclear, anxiety created by powerful storms is a growing reality on the East Coast — especially in communities that felt Fiona’s wrath last year. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-NOAA via AP
In this image from video provided by Rebecca Barger a vehicle drives through mud at the Burning Man festival site in Black Rock, Nev., on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. An unusual late-summer storm stranded thousands at the week-long event. (Rebecca Barger/@rebeccabargerphoto via AP)

Burning Man party-goers shaking off the mud and heading home

Tens of thousands stranded at annual festival after rain turns desert into mud

In this image from video provided by Rebecca Barger a vehicle drives through mud at the Burning Man festival site in Black Rock, Nev., on Monday, Sept. 4, 2023. An unusual late-summer storm stranded thousands at the week-long event. (Rebecca Barger/@rebeccabargerphoto via AP)
Jewell Baggett stands beside a Christmas decoration she recovered from the wreckage of her mother’s home, as she searches for anything salvageable from the trailer home her grandfather had acquired in 1973 and built multiple additions on to over the decades, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., after the passage of Hurricane Idalia, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Tropical Storm Idalia fades leaving U.S. residents to count the cost

Florida governor says Idalia was far less destructive than initially feared

Jewell Baggett stands beside a Christmas decoration she recovered from the wreckage of her mother’s home, as she searches for anything salvageable from the trailer home her grandfather had acquired in 1973 and built multiple additions on to over the decades, in Horseshoe Beach, Fla., after the passage of Hurricane Idalia, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Skies over Chilliwack at dawn look clearer than they have been in days, on Aug. 22, 2023 as the air quality advisory continued for the fourth day across the Lower Mainland. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)

Breathing easier across Lower Mainland but air quality advisory remains

Air quality advisory cancelled for Metro Vancouver’s southwest area only

Skies over Chilliwack at dawn look clearer than they have been in days, on Aug. 22, 2023 as the air quality advisory continued for the fourth day across the Lower Mainland. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Chilliwack Progress)