Flood warning in place for Metro Vancouver shores as high waves expected: Environment Canada

Environment Canada has issued a warning forcoastal flooding due to significant waves along Metro Vancouver shorelines.

The federal forecaster is expecting high water levels and large waves early Thursday morningnear Stanley Park and Kitsilano in Vancouver, the University of British Columbia, Richmond and Delta.

Armel Castellan, a warning preparedness meteorologistwith Environment Canada, says several factors, including storm surge and king tides, have led to the warning.

"Anorthwesterly [wind]flow and the waves associated to that wind could be getting closer to twometres in height," he said.

A storm surge, Castellan says, is when a low pressure storm is able to elevate ocean water levels.

Meanwhile a king tide, also known as a spring tide, he says, takes place for a few days in the winter months when the Earth is physically closest to the sun. He says when the sun and moon are aligned, the joint gravitational pull creates stronger, deeper tides.

"It all is timed with the high tide that is around 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. [Thursday] morning," Castellan said.

"Although it's not the highest tide that Vancouver will see, it is high enough with the other two elements ... [for]possible coastal flooding."

Castellan saysthe low pressure system impacting morning tides is not to be confused with the high pressure system coming in from the north for Thursday afternoon.

"There are two separate things happening ... Later in the day, the winds are going to shift quite dramatically... [with] that arcticfront coming in."

Ferry sailingscancelled

On Thursday morning, the conditions caused B.C. Ferries to cancelthe 7 a.m. PT sailing from Swartz Bay outside Victoria to Tsawwassen in the Lower Mainland, along with the return sailing at 9 a.m.

Environment Canada put out a separate weather warning Wednesday afternoon for an Arctic outflowexpected to bring strong winds and below freezing temperatures toMetro Vancouver, Greater Victoria, Fraser Valley and the Southern Gulf Islands.

In a statement, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation said debris, such as washed up logs, have been removed from shorelines and sandbags are being used to protect infrastructure.

It said staff is closely monitoring weather patterns and, if needed, will close sections of the seawall to protect the public from surging tides.

"We request that the public respect all closures ... give crews plenty of space to work and stay away from the water's edge during surges, particularly if accompanying children or pets," read the park board's statement.

Castellan warnsstorm chasers heading to the shorelines for a peak at the high waves to be careful ofdangers that may hit unexpectedly.

"It might be the excitement of watching waves crash and getting [splashed] ... [but] thestorm surge could be a dangerous thing," he said.