SECTIONS NEWS COLUMNS SPORTS WEATHER STREAMING OBITUARIES PROGRAMMING NOTE: CFJC outage on Bell, Telus satellite services Extensive flooding, mainly through the Lower Mainland, was the result of an atmospheric river in mid-November. Environment Canada is looking to provide better warning for future storms. (The Canadian Press) By Jordan Davidson RIVERS IN THE SKY Grading system for severity of ‘atmospheric rivers’ expected by early 2022 Nov 25, 2021 | 4:44 PM NANAIMO — B.C residents are getting used to hearing new terms for storms like ‘atmospheric river’ but Environment Canada is looking to further define the latest weather buzz word. Environment Canada and the federal government confirmed they are working together on a system which would classify atmospheric rivers to better warn residents who may be in their path of the severity of the storm. The scale would clarify mild effects like puddles on roads to more severe outcomes such as mudslides and road washouts. “That will assist us greatly in getting an understanding of exactly what the nature of an atmospheric river is,” Mike Farnworth, B.C. public safety minister said earlier this week. “It is a new term that I think most of us now are becoming familiar with.” The scale would be similar to a ranking system in the United States. Farnworth said they hope to have this new grading system in place in early Jan. 2022. According to Environment Canada, atmospheric rivers are long, slender regions in the atmosphere which transport water vapour in weather patterns and dumps the moisture in the form of rain or snow once it hits land. They are also revered to as rivers in the sky. The latest atmospheric river coming into B.C. and Washington state from the Pacific on Thursday, Nov. 25. (Environment Canada) Nanaimo Airport recorded 142.1 millimetres of rain between Nov. 13 and 15, while a monitoring station at Qualicum Beach Airport measured 91.8 millimetres over the same time period. Environment Canada is tracking three storms expected to hit various parts of the Island over the next week or so, beginning Wednesday, Nov. 24. Around 40 to 50 millimetres of rain are expected from the first two storms, with the third one packing more of a moisture punch than the first two. Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature. jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow by Jordan Davidson View Comments Our Community SOUND OFF SOUND OFF: Some good news, but much hard work ahead 13h ago ART OF GARDENING Art of Gardening - What's New for Fall: Part 2 KAMLOOPS WANTED CRIME STOPPERS: Kamloops Wanted - November 25, 2021 13h ago SOUND OFF SOUND OFF: Responding to disaster Nov 24, 2021 ART OF GARDENING Art of Gardening - What's New for Fall: Part 1 QUESTION OF THE WEEK Do you believe Kamloops is well prepared for a natural disaster? Nov 23, 2021 KAMLOOPS WANTED CRIME STOPPERS: Kamloops Wanted - November 22, 2021 Nov 22, 2021 News COVID-19 Coronavirus Kamloops and Area Cariboo Region British Columbia Canada World Weather Community Community News & Blogs Showbizz Buzz Events Calendar Polls Ripley's Weird Your Life Unlimited Contests & Giveaways Real Estate Featured Content Sports All Sports Local Sports WolfPack TV Blazers Today Columns Armchair Mayor The Way I See It Eyeview Two & Out Sound Off Announcements Community Safety Obituaries Public Notices Shows Evening News Midday Balance of Power Week In Review Live Stream TV Specials CFJC TODAY Contact Us News Team Advertise With Us Submissions Privacy Policy Contest Rules Terms of Service 460 Pemberton Terrace Kamloops, BC V2C 1T5 Phone: (250) 372-3322 Newsroom: (250) 851-3204 We strive to achieve the highest ethical standards in all that we do. Our newsroom abides by the RTDNA Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and follows the Canadian Press Stylebook CFJC Today is a division of COPYRIGHT © 2021. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Powered By SoCast We'd like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates. Allow Cancel