Heavy rainfall hit West Vancouver, a municipality located in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The streets there turned into raging torrents. The downpours were caused by the so-called atmospheric river.
Atmospheric rivers are vast wind tunnels that have a short lifespan. They transport huge amounts of water vapor from the warm ocean waters to the lands of mid-latitudes. This phenomenon is caused by the formation of narrow but very gusty wind streams. The atmospheric river travels at an altitude of about 1.5-2 kilometers above the surface, and upon reaching land, it descends rapidly in the form of heavy rain or heavy snow.
Mud mixed with debris flowed down the streets
An atmospheric river brought enormous amounts of water to the municipality of West Vancouver, British Columbia. On Saturday, it rained heavily and there was flooding. Footage released by the West Vancouver Police Department shows mud mixed with debris flowing down the streets.
According to local media, up to 150 liters of rain per square meter fell near the coast of Vancouver Island, and up to 250 l/sq m in mountainous areas.
West Vancouver authorities warned residents that rainfall would continue through the weekend.