Tough travel, cancellations likely as heavy B.C. snow continues
Hefty snowfall totals will continue snarling travel throughout southwestern British Columbia into the beginning of the workweek
A multi-day snowfall event for the B.C. coast is underway and snow has already piled up in a hurry across the region. Some communities saw more than 20 cm of snow by Sunday afternoon.
The snowfall is timed well with the outcome of Groundhog Day on Sunday, with more than half of Canada’s prognosticating critters indicating six more weeks of winter.
DON’T MISS: Live updates: Groundhog Day results, see them here!
Be prepared for difficult travel to continue into Monday as the snow sticks around. Sudden changes in road conditions and visibility are expected throughout the Lower Mainland and parts of Vancouver Island.
Stay aware of weather alerts in your area and keep up with the latest highway conditions before heading out.
Monday and Tuesday
A low-pressure system will help press Arctic air toward the coast through into Monday. Bands of heavy snow will continue rotating across the South Coast, bringing more heavy snowfall across Metro Vancouver.
"Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow," Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) says in the snowfall warning for Metro Vancouver.
Converging winds along the North Shore and regions south of the North Shore Mountains will increase snowfall rates. Some areas here may see up to 20 cm of accumulation during periods of heavy snowfall.
WATCH: Snowy scenes in B.C.'s lower elevations amid winter storm
Periods of snow will continue across the Lower Mainland into the first half of Monday before tapering off by the afternoon hours. However, snow will ramp up for parts of Vancouver Island.
Heading into Monday night and early Tuesday, we’ll see strait-effect snow continue for eastern Vancouver Island. Heavy snowfall is expected around Tofino and Ucluelet as winds converge over the area. We’ll see lingering snow for the Gulf Islands and southern Vancouver Island.
Heavy snow bands will also target the Gulf Islands and southern Vancouver Island, extending from the Saanich Peninsula to the Comox Valley.
This will be a highly impactful snow event throughout the region, with road closures, school cancellations and significant travel disruptions expected on Monday and Tuesday.
The Arctic chill will continue beyond the end of the snowfall. Once the snowfall subsides on Tuesday on Vancouver Island, daytime highs will dive to well below-seasonal values. The added snowpack on the ground will add an extra chill with clearing skies.
The pattern will be good news for the province's ski resorts. It will help replenish the ski hills with some fresh, new snow and finally bring winter to coastal sections, which have been missing it so far this season.
Stay with The Weather Network for all the latest on your forecast across British Columbia.