Snow returning to South Coast — and this time shovelling may actually be necessary
Accumulation expected in Fraser Valley, Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island, followed by extreme cold
British Columbians along the South Coast may want to ready their shovels for real, with the forecast calling for snow late Thursday and into Friday.
Environment Canada says most areas will receive at least a few centimetres, with potential for much higher accumulation over the Fraser Valley, Greater Victoria and eastern and inland Vancouver Island.
The snow is expected to be pushed out of the region late Friday by bitterly cold Arctic winds that will be strongest over the Howe Sound-Whistler region, Fraser Valley, Greater Victoria and southern Gulf Islands. Falling windchill temperatures and reduced visibility due to blowing snow are expected.
Temperatures in Metro Vancouver could drop as low as –8 C Saturday night.
Meanwhile, extreme cold warnings remain in effect for the North Columbia, Peace River and Kinbasket regions, with wind chill values near –40 C Wednesday morning. Environment Canada says conditions could begin to warm this afternoon.
An Arctic outflow warning remains in place along the inland section of the North Coast, including Kitimat and Terrace, but conditions will start to improve this afternoon.