ENVIRONMENT Canada says that a couple of weather systems are expected to arrive on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. During the afternoon of Christmas Day, the weather system will bring heavy rain to Metro Vancouver and Squamish. Over higher terrain above 300 metres elevation, a brief period of wet snow may give slippery conditions.

Rain will continue through Boxing Day as another low pressure system moves close to the South Coast. Rain will ease to a few possible showers in the afternoon of Boxing Day.

Heavy downpours can cause flash floods and water pooling on roads. Localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible, warns Environment Canada.

Total rainfall accumulations: 50 to 80 mm. For North Shore, northern Coquitlam and Maple Ridge: 100 mm or more is possible.

There is also a wind warning. A weather system arriving on Christmas Day will bring widespread, very strong southeast winds to the inner South Coast. A low pressure system will merge with the first storm over the inner south coast overnight into Boxing Day morning, prolonging the wind event possibly into the late morning.

These very strong southeast winds will be widespread over the South Coast and persist for a long duration. Winds will gradually ease near midday on Boxing Day. High winds may toss loose objects or cause tree branches to break. High winds may result in power outages and fallen tree branches.