B.C.: Flakes fly for South Coast, Van Island as temps plunge
theweathernetwork.com
Sunday, February 3, 2019, 3:45 PM - While the region has been immune to much of the bitter cold that has marked the early part of 2019 in the rest of Canada, British Columbia's South Coast is getting a taste of tumbling temperatures as strong Arctic outflow drops temperatures below the freezing mark, and brings snow back to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Sunday saw the flurries flying all the way to the coast in Vancouver, and there's more chances for snow on the way as a system brushes by to the south. We take a look at how cold it gets, and who has the best shot at seeing accumulation from the falling flakes, below.
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WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Arctic outflow pushes temperatures up to 15 degrees below average through Monday
- Chance for accumulating snow across Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island
- Temperatures moderate but remain chilly into new week
COLDER AIR FLOODS INTO THE PROVINCE, A COUPLE SHOTS AT SNOW FOR SOUTH COAST
High pressure building over the Yukon and the northern Prairies is turning the tables on British Columbia, at least when it comes to the prevailing wind direction. With a ridge of high pressure building inland, winds are shifting from their usual onshore direction to flow toward the ocean instead, setting up the Central and South Coasts to see a blast of Arctic outflow.
In a rare turn of events for winter, Vancouver was colder than Toronto on Sunday afternoon, as highs neared 10 degrees below average along the coast -- putting them right around the freezing mark. Further inland, highs will be running closer to 15 degrees below average into the start of the new work-week.
Arctic outflow warnings were issued up and down the coast as strong winds gusting as high as 100 km/h in some cases pushed wind chills down into the minus double digits. While winds will ease for the coastal inlets somewhat into Monday, unusually cold wind chills are likely to persist.
SEE ALSO: Five awful things extreme cold does to the human body
The combination of this Arctic outflow and a low pressure system south of the border has brought snow back to the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island, with even the immediate shoreline in Vancouver reporting some light snow on Sunday afternoon. While much of the snow in the Metro wasn't sticking to start, downtown Vancouver and West Van may see a centimetre or two, with amounts closer to 5 to 10 cm as you head up the Fraser Valley before snow wraps up on Monday afternoon.
Into the North Shore Mountains, up to 15 cm is expected heading up into higher elevations.
Over on Vancouver Island, Victoria could even seen between 1 to 3 cm, which could linger on grassy surfaces through the afternoon hours Monday. Further inland, and at higher elevation, 5 to 15 cm is expected, with significant variations expected due to snow squalls off the straits.
TIMING
Flurries and scattered pockets of light snow will continue for the South Coast and Coastal Mountains through early Monday, with isolated flurries still possible through Monday morning. For Vancouver Island, onshore flow and isolated snow squalls from the Strait of Georgia will intensify into Sunday evening, with winds finally edging snow into Victoria through the overnight and early morning hours.
Moderating temperatures -- at least near the coast -- later this week mean that the chance for additional snow is limited, but not out of the question as another system descends down the coast late week. Stay with us here at The Weather Network for your latest forecast updates.
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