How does this winter compare to the infamous 2008/2009 season?

Despite the unusual and brutal waves of snow and arctic chill for Vancouver, we haven't broken any major weather records yet.

But there's still time.

For many in the Lower Mainland, the season we most reference when it comes to serious winters was 2008/2009. That's when almost 90 centimetres fell at the YVR weather station in December, with snow sticking around until March.

By comparison, in December 2016 only 27.4 centimetres fell — nowhere close to even making it into the 10 snowiest Decembers.

In fact, it was the 16th snowiest December on record.

But it's not just the amount of snow: the fact that it was spread out over six separate snow events, each time followed by partial melting before another stretch of arctic weather, is making getting around treacherous. 

And those figures are taken from Richmond which is really not representative of the entire Lower Mainland. Just ask anyone in Coquitlam or Port Moody or North Vancouver!

Another major snow event in the forecast

One thing is clear — there will be more cold and there will be more snow before this winter is done for Vancouver. 

• Vancouver fire halls offering residents free salt

• 300 city staff redeployed to deal with treacherous Vancouver streets and sidewalks

The latest blast of arctic air will stay through Thursday for much of B.C., with afternoon temperatures hovering around zero for Vancouver, and overnight lows approaching -10 C.

Big changes are expected to arrive Friday as milder Pacific air moves in, bringing more snow. But that also means temperatures will get a few degrees above zero at lower elevations, adding the possibility for significant snow changing to rain for some. 

It gets complicated over the weekend, because B.C.'s South Coast actually has two systems merging right over us — one coming from the north bringing milder Pacific air, and another moving in from Washington State.

Either way there is a good chance the Lower Mainland could see several days of snow through the weekend and into early next week, although there is still a lot of uncertainty in exact amounts.

Stay tuned to Environment Canada's weather alerts as we get closer to the weekend. 

As for the rest of the winter? Long range outlooks for the west coast keep us cold right through January.