Boom or bust: Potentially hazardous, wintry storm on B.C.'s doorsteps
A major winter storm is targeting B.C’s South Coast with 5-15+ cm of snow. However, a boom-and-bust storm scenario is currently at play, but both are highly disruptive by Wednesday morning.
B.C. will be in for a wintry ride this week as a new system moves onto the coast with a potentially messy mix, threatening to disrupt travel.
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Moisture from a Pacific system will interact with Arctic air already in place over the B.C. South Coast to bring heavy snow to most areas, likely leading to difficult travelling on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The possible wintry mix with the system sees a potential for heavy snow and freezing rain during the storm, likely to pose a hazard to travel and outdoor activities.
Special weather statements are in place for a good portion of southern B.C.
Tuesday night to Wednesday
Conditions are forecast to deteriorate Tuesday overnight into Wednesday morning across the South Coast, with temperatures stubbornly remaining at or below the freezing mark.
There’s still some uncertainty about the track of the developing low-pressure system. Its track seems to want to sweep across Washington state, giving the entire South Coast a boom scenario: 10-20+ cm snowfall event, with little mixing or rain through the day on Wednesday.
However, we are monitoring a slight shift northwards, which may bring in warmer air, although this scenario seems less likely.
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The system will start as snow everywhere and then switch over the rain for the southern coastal section of Vancouver Island, which will have difficult travel, as well, with heavy snowfall across eastern and central sections.
Tuesday overnight there is the chance for some milder air aloft to get very close to or just cross the border into the Lower Mainland, which could bring the risk of icy precipitation.
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However, the warm air seems shallow and short-lived, degrading by Wednesday morning –– favouring a brief mixing or a boom, all-snow event. Areas north of the Fraser River are likely to stay as all snowfall, making travel treacherous.
Northern and central B.C. will also see snow with the northern front, but for the southern Interior, two systems will merge, bringing snow to the region.
There is uncertainty with exact snowfall totals at this time.
A boom scenario may mean 10-15 cm to Metro Vancouver, if the air stays cold enough. Even our bust scenario may still bring 5-10 cm to Vancouver, so either way, expect high commuting impacts. Be sure to check back, and plan to avoid travel on Wednesday.
Stay with The Weather Network for more updates and information on your forecast in B.C.