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Blast of Arctic weather to hit Nanaimo Sunday, says Environment Canada

Dec 2, 2016 | 4:17 PM

NANAIMO — Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of bitter cold and possibly snow for the areas around Vancouver Island and the south coast.

The weather agency says the first Arctic outbreak of the season will bring bitterly cold, windy conditions and possibly snow to the south coast and Vancouver Island beginning Sunday evening.

Temperatures are expected to plummet five to 10 degrees below normal, with overnight minimums around minus-5 Celsius as the cold air reaches the south coast on Sunday evening.

It says after the cold air arrives, incoming Pacific weather systems may bring snow over coastal communities. The statement says on Wednesday a stronger Pacific system may boost the chance of snow again. However, the snow will not last long — warmer air will replace the Arctic air later in the week.