Heavy rains, wind and snow forecast for various parts of British Columbia

VANCOUVER – Severe weather including rain, winds and snow is set to hit several parts of British Columbia over the weekend.

Environment Canada has issued a heavy rain and strong localized wind warning for Metro Vancouver, Gibsons, Sechelt, Sea to Sky Corridor, North Shore of Vancouver, Tri-Cities area and Lower Fraser Valley north of the Fraser River.

The weather agency says upslope areas from the Lower Sunshine Coast to the Lower Fraser Valley are expected to receive the heaviest amounts of rain beginning Sunday night until Monday afternoon.

It warns that strong, gusty winds are also possible starting Sunday and into Monday across Metro Vancouver, Abbotsford and parts of Howe Sound.

Environment Canada has issued a winter storm watch from Sunday night to Monday afternoon for Highway 3 — Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass with the areas expected to see up to 30 centimetres of snow.

It says up to 40 centimetres of snow are expected for Coquihalla Summit — Hope to Merritt starting Sunday and into Tuesday evening.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 2, 2022.