Halloween weekend may look more doom and gloom this year.
A second atmospheric river event in three days is set to hit the Tri-Cities region this weekend as Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement that includes strong winds and rainfall.
The alert went into effect as of 5 a.m. this morning (Oct. 28), and is forecast for Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Oct. 29-31).
Meteorologists are predicting long periods of heavy rain for Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra, as well as a 70 per cent chance of rain for Halloween night.
Environment Canada's warning reads "rainfall warnings are likely to be issued as the event nears."
Mild temperatures are expected to ranger between 10 and 15 C during the atmospheric river event.
On Thursday (Oct. 27), Coquitlam accumulated 67.5 mm of rain, according to the city's rain gauge atop of Burke Mountain.
However, the conditions resulted in a downed wire, more than 1,200 BC Hydro customers without power for nearly six hours and a closure of Highway 1 between Brunette Avenue and Gaglardi Way.
ICBC says crash rates increase by 50 per cent each year in the Lower Mainland when commuters choose to drive too fast in poor conditions.
That's an annual five-year average of 114 in October and 171 in December (2016-2020) as the weather worsens.
Tips for dreary Halloween
With rain and wind imminent for Halloween, Fraser Health is encouraging residents to see and to be seen.
"We want everyone to be alert and aware of their surroundings while on roads to ensure safety for drivers and trick-or-treaters," said Dr. Emily Newhouse, medical health officer with the regional authority.
Tips for trick-or-treaters include:
- Be visible
- Choose costumes that are lighter in colour, bring flashlights or glow sticks, and add reflective material to costumes, candy bags and shoes to ensure that children are visible to drivers
- Go as a group
- Trick-or-treating in a group can be fun and makes everyone more visible to drivers, and an adult should always accompany children younger than 12
- Follow pedestrian rules
- Remind children to always walk on sidewalks, cross only at crosswalks and refrain from walking between parked cars or through front yards
Tips for drivers include:
- Be alert
- Drive slowly in residential areas to allow you more time to scan the road and react unexpectedly, if needed
- Watch for children darting out from between parked cars
- Take your time at stops
- When you are nearing stop signs or intersections, come to a complete stop, scan the crosswalk and check multiple times before you start driving
- Do not drink and drive
- Arrange for a ride with a designated driver, take transit, use a ridesharing app or call a taxi to get home safely
- Keep driving safely after Halloween night
- With darker driving conditions during fall and winter months, it becomes harder to see pedestrians
- Wet roads can mean it takes longer to stop. Taking your time and actively watch for pedestrians
For more information, you're encouraged to visit Fraser Health's website.
