B.C. winter storm forecast to start Saturday night, intensify Sunday
CBC News | Posted: January 3, 2015 5:29 PM | Last Updated: January 4, 2015
Environment Canada forecasting 'messy' weather from snow to ice and freezing rain along the coast and inland
Environment Canada says the first major storm of 2015 will hit the South Coast Saturday and intensify Sunday.
In a storm watch bulletin issued Saturday afternoon, it forecasts mixed rain and snow developing at lower elevations over most of the coast tonight, before switching to snow overnight.
However, in Metro Vancouver, the weather forecaster predicted precipitation would likely remain as a mix of snow and rain at lower elevations.
Total snowfall is expected to range from just a few centimetres near the coast, up to 20 cm at higher elevations and inland, it said
The snow is forecast to change to rain late Sunday as warm Pacific air floods the region.
There is also a risk of freezing rain over the eastern Fraser Valley Sunday night before the transition takes effect.
The snow and freezing rain are expected to give way to heavy rain of more than 50 mm through Sunday night and Monday.
The weather service says to prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots become more difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.
It recommends postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.