Snow, then rain, and maybe flooding
Prepare to trade your snow shovel for an umbrella as a snowy Sunday is expected to give way to a melting Monday.
In a “special weather statement” for Metro Vancouver, Environment Canada says a Pacific front will bring a load of snow — up to 15 cm at higher elevations — to the south coast on Sunday before turning to rain by Monday morning.
Temperatures are expected to rise to a high of 7 C — up from a low of -9 C in the early hours of Saturday — and the combination of rain and melting snow could cause localized flooding during the morning commute.
The snowfall could continue into Monday in the eastern Fraser Valley and from Squamish to Whistler, with a risk of freezing rain during the eventual changeover from snow to rain.
“The Arctic air that has been with us for nearly two weeks will finally be flushed out by milder Pacific air,” the weather service statement read.
Despite the predicted thaw, winter may not loosen its hold so easily. The Weather Network’s 14-day forecast is calling for a mix of showers and flurries in Vancouver on Dec. 25, with more snow expected to fall on Boxing Day.
The City of Vancouver says its salt trucks will be ready to go into action and city crews are on call to respond to a weekend snowstorm.
So far this December, the city has applied more than 230,000 litres of brine and 5,172 tonnes of salt to roads.
The city is reminding property owners and tenants they are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks around the property by 10 a.m., the morning following a snowfall. Those unable to clear their sidewalks can call 311 and request assistance from the city’s Snow Angels program, which connects volunteer shovellers with elderly or disabled neighbours who have trouble clearing their walks.
The City of Chilliwack is asking residents to clear storm drains and catch basins in front of their homes to prevent flooding after a near-record snowfall last week, which remains on the ground.
Snow-clearing on side streets had just begun Thursday, but was delayed Friday when the wind picked up and sent more snow blowing across major roads.
Elsewhere in the province, a winter storm warning was issued for the north coast, with 20-30 cm of snow expected in Kitimat by Sunday evening. Temperatures in Yoho National Park and Kootenay National Park were expected to dip below -35 C with the wind chill.