Canada Drenched by Relentless Rains from Coast to Coast
Canada is facing a soaking like few others, with heavy rainfall hammering both the east and west of the country for entirely different reasons. Over the past few days, parts of Québec have been drenched as remnants of Hurricane Melissa mix with a strong, moisture-packed weather system. Meanwhile, on the opposite coast, British Columbia is grappling with torrential downpours brought on by what meteorologists call an “atmospheric river.”
Now, for anyone unfamiliar with that term, an atmospheric river is essentially a long, narrow corridor of moisture transported from the tropics. When it makes landfall, it can unload huge amounts of rain. In this case, the western coast of Canada and parts of the U.S. Pacific Northwest are seeing between 100 and 150 millimeters of rain expected by Sunday. That’s a lot — enough to trigger local flooding and even landslides in vulnerable regions.
Experts explain that atmospheric rivers are categorized on a scale from one to five, depending on the strength of the moisture flow and the system’s duration. The one currently sweeping across western Canada is classified as a category 3 — moderate, but still intense enough to cause significant effects. It’s expected to remain active for about 24 to 48 hours before tapering off by the weekend.
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While this might sound like a disaster in the making, there’s another side to it. As meteorologist Nicolas Lessard notes, such moisture can actually benefit the soil and vegetation, keeping ecosystems healthy. However, too much at once can cause flooding and erosion — and that’s exactly the fine balance Canada is facing right now.
In eastern Canada, the situation is just as dramatic but for entirely different reasons. In Gaspésie, heavy rains of up to 100 millimeters are forecast within 24 hours. After a summer marked by severe drought, many residents are welcoming the rainfall — though local leaders warn it’s arriving too late to solve deeper water supply problems. The mayor of Gaspé, Daniel Côté, pointed out that even if rain pours down now, it takes weeks for that water to seep into the groundwater reserves.
Further south in New Richmond, the story is similar. Residents who rely on wells have been struggling with shortages for months. Mayor Éric Dubé described the situation as unprecedented and warned that despite the long-awaited rain, recovery would be slow — perhaps “too little, too late.”
Meanwhile, Halloween night in Québec isn’t escaping the deluge either. Kids heading out trick-or-treating are advised to grab umbrellas and raincoats, as heavy showers are expected to continue through the evening, with strong winds sweeping across several regions.
From British Columbia’s atmospheric river to Québec’s hurricane-fed downpours, Canada is literally caught in a squeeze of weather extremes. It’s a reminder of just how varied — and powerful — the country’s climate can be when nature decides to turn on the taps.
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