An atmospheric river weather system is drenching coastal British Columbia, triggering localized flooding as voters head to the polls for the provincial election.

An atmospheric river battering B.C. brought flooding, road closures, power outages and event cancellations in parts of the province on Saturday, with officials saying transportation challenges would likely be exacerbated by the number of people heading out to vote.

An atmospheric river washing over British Columbia this weekend has triggered flooding in some communities across the South Coast. Persistent waves of heavy rainfall, fuelled by a Category 4 atmospheric river, have filled gauges and waterways alike throughout the region.

By Sunday, between 80 and120 millimetres of rain is expected to fall, with the intensity expected to ease Saturday night before a second round of heavy rain on Sunday.

VANCOUVER — Environment Canada has issued several rainfall warnings for British Columbia, covering much of Vancouver Island and the coastal regions as the first atmospheric river of the season approaches.