Wintry precipitation complicates travel in B.C., snowfall warnings issued

Digital WritersThe Weather Network
Digital Writers

A low-pressure system and lingering Arctic air are responsible for bringing snow across parts of B.C.'s South Coast

A low pressure system has brought a messy mix of wintry precipitation to B.C. and will continue throughout the day on Monday. Freezing levels will be as low as 200 metres over the coming days, which means that most communities are capable of seeing a wintry-mix. However, the potential for significant snowfall accumulations will continue for some. Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings for a number of higher elevation regions including East Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast. Motorists are warned to adjust their driving as the road conditions change. Details and timing, below.


WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

  • Mix of rain and snow continues to impact the South Coast

  • Snowfall warnings in place over higher terrain

  • More potential systems this week


MONDAY: SNOW, RAIN CONTINUE TO COMPLICATE TRAVEL

The mix of rain and snow will continue to impact the South Coast on Monday. The region’s complex terrain will result in varied snowfall totals and communities near the water, including Comox, Parksville, Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver with varying, and sometimes limited, snowfall totals.

As always is the case, higher terrain can often be the deciding factor with higher snowfall accumulations for North Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

BCsnow (Sun AM)

Elevations near 300 metres in Metro Vancouver could see up to 10 cm of snow by Tuesday morning. On Vancouver Island, snowfall amounts are forecast to range from near 2 cm on the coasts to 5-15 cm inland and over higher terrain.

As you head further east into the southern Interior, there will be very little, if any, snow, due to the abundant cold and lack of moisture.

THIS WEEK: POTENTIAL FOR MORE SNOWY WEATHER

Strait-effect snow is possible on Tuesday for Vancouver Island, as the winds align along the Strait of Georgia and direct bands of wet snow towards parts of east Vancouver Island. Locally, this could be significant since these bands of snow are similar to lake-effect snow witnessed across Ontario.

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Another system will move in early on Wednesday bringing periods of wet snow across most of the South Coast, which will linger into Thursday.

Another wet snow event is likely to occur this upcoming weekend, as Pacific moisture dances with temperatures that are on the chilly side of seasonal. For regions south of the Malahat on Vancouver Island, you may be disappointed to find out most of your precipitation will fall as rain this week.

Thumbnail credit: Mia Gordon

Check back as we continue to watch the weekend forecast.