Heavy rainfall has caused a mudslide on Salt Spring Island and highway flooding throughout southern Vancouver Island Monday morning.
North End Road on Salt Spring Island is closed between residential addresses 1254 and 1281 due to a mudslide reported by Emcon highway services at 6 a.m. Nov. 15. RCMP say they have not been called to the scene.
In Greater Victoria, flooding on Sooke Road between Gillespie and Impala roads has closed that section of highway. East Sooke Road at Beecher Bay Road is also impassable.
Heavy water pooling is also affecting traffic throughout Saanich, according to the police department.
Motorists: Please allow extra time driving this morning, as several roads in Saanich are reported to have heavy water pooling, including Hwy 17, Prospect Lake, West Saanich and Interurban. Drive safe! #Saanich #yyjtraffic
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) November 15, 2021
Heading up the Malahat, both the south and northbound lanes have been closed at Westshore Parkway due to road and bank instability. Emcon says crews are on site and working to remove the centre median barrier to allow southbound lanes to drain. They will introduce single-lane alternating traffic when possible.
Further up the highway near Mill Bay, Briarwood Drive has also been washed out. There, Emcon says crews are looking at implementing a temporary bridge.
Shortly before 8 a.m., Emcon issued an advisory asking people not to travel if they don’t have to.
RELATED: Island Highway closed in Cowichan Valley due to flooding
The incidents come as the majority of Vancouver Island waits out rainfall and wind warnings.
In Greater Victoria, Environment Canada says 100 to 180 millimeters of rain is expected by noon Monday. The region is also experiencing west winds of 70 km/h, gusting to 90 km/h.
Environment Canada warns that heavy rainfall can cause flash floods and pooling on roads and that high winds can break tree limbs and cause power outages.
Rain is expected to ease after noon Monday, while wind will lessen by the evening.
READ ALSO: Princeton B.C. devastated by flood
READ ALSO: 3 separate slides close Coquihalla, Highway 1 and 7
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B.C. Floods 2021BC FloodMetchosinSalt Spring IslandSevere weatherSooke
