As summer transitions to fall, Island residents should prepare for wind and rain in the coming days, says Environment Canada.

A special weather statement was issued Friday, Sept. 22, warning of a significant fall storm for Vancouver Island the night of Sunday, Sept. 24. While summer brought drought conditions, Alyssa Charbonneau, Environment Canada meteorologist, said there will be a B次元官网网址渂ig shift in the weatherB次元官网网址� with the stormy pattern expected by the end of this week in areas, including Nanaimo.

B次元官网网址淲e got a few showers coming through on Saturday, which is not going to give too much, but it will be a shift from having sunny days and really warm temperatures,B次元官网网址� Charbonneau said. B次元官网网址淏ut really Sunday night into Monday, we see a pretty strong, low-pressure system thatB次元官网网址檚 approaching Vancouver Island. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to bring widespread rain B次元官网网址� we could see 15-25 millimetres, potentially, across parts of eastern Vancouver Island as well.B次元官网网址�

She said the system is also set to bring 30-40-kilometre-an-hour winds, gusting to 60, which normally wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be cause for concern, but given dry conditions, could prove problematic.

B次元官网网址淔or the kind of winds we tend to get in the fall, itB次元官网网址檚 pretty run-of-the-mill for a storm,B次元官网网址� said Charbonneau. B次元官网网址淏ut given this is going to be our first brush with windier conditions, it could maybe cause a little bit more impact; some of the trees have been very dry, obviously, through the summer, this is going to be their first test.B次元官网网址�

Some forecasts are calling for 30-40 millimetres of rain on Tuesday, Sept. 26, but itB次元官网网址檚 too early to say whether Nanaimo will actually see that much, she said.

B次元官网网址淧otentially by the end of the week B次元官网网址� you could see some rainfall totals that are pretty healthy, but once we get into middle of next week, thereB次元官网网址檚 a little bit of uncertainty,B次元官网网址� said Charbonneau. B次元官网网址淢ost of the models are forecasting some storms coming through, but thereB次元官网网址檚 a bit of disagreement about just the timing and exactly where theyB次元官网网址檒l hit. So those final amounts that weB次元官网网址檙e seeing are still up in the air, but what is looking pretty certain is that weB次元官网网址檙e going get widespread rain.B次元官网网址�

Local governments are aware of the situation.

In an e-mail, Evan Lloyd, City of Nanaimo emergency program manager, said the city relies on Environment Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate ReadinessB次元官网网址� assessments for weather-driven hazards and prepares accordingly.

Likewise, the Regional District of Nanaimo emergency services team said it is continuing to monitor alerts and co-ordinate with partners and response agencies as required.

Both the city and the RDN advised residents to check gutters, storm drains, culverts, ditches and catch basins to ensure they are clear.

Charbonneau advised that weather is subject to change and to check the latest forecasts.

Nanaimo area residents can sign up for emergency alerts by going to .

Looks like we may be in for some heavy rain next week. Make sure to check storm drains, culverts, ditches and catch basins around your property and clear away any debris blocking them. Thanks for your help in reducing the risk of flooding, !

B次元官网网址� City of Nanaimo (@cityofnanaimo)

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