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Up to 20 cm. of snow predicted for Nanaimo

Feb 3, 2017 | 8:19 AM

NANAIMO — Mother Nature isn’t done with Nanaimo yet.

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan said anywhere between five and 15 centimetres of snow could fall on Friday.

By posting time at 9:15 a.m., several cm. had already fallen and the Environment Canada snowfall effect was updated to warn of between 10 and 20 cm. of snow. 

Castellan said it’s a dynamic system moving into the area involving southeast winds, Arctic air and a warm front from Washington state, which makes the storm difficult to predict.

Nanaimo roads manager David Myles said this type of snow tends to pack down into ice very quickly, causing slippery conditions. 

Karen Lindsay with the city said Fitzwilliam St. from Milton St. to Pine St., Franklyn St. at Milton St. and Prideaux St. and Holland Rd. at East Wellington are closed. 

Westlood Lake Rd., Departure Bay Rd. and Mostar Rd. have been affected by ice. NanaimoNewsNOW has heard many reports of cars slipping and sliding on the roads into other lands of the ditch. 

Dale Burgos with the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public School District said schools will be open all day. He urged students and parents to use caution on their way home.

“The roads are slick in some areas so drive safe. And for the kids walking home stay on the sidewalks, that’s what we try to remind them everyday. Crosswalks, when you’re about to cross the street, just make sure that you’re looking both ways and that cars are stopped before you start walking,” he said.

Castellan said this past winter has been unusual with more cold snaps than usual.

“Generally we’ll see an Arctic outbreak for a week at a time, maybe four or five days and we’ll see it maybe three times in a given winter. But for this to happen more consistently for the better part of a winter, that’s what’s unusual.”

It wasn’t the coldest winter Nanaimo has seen, with an average January temperature of 1.5. degrees, but it was the 10th driest January on record with only 67 millimetres of precipitation.

Castellan said no matter how much snow falls, residents need to be prepared for poor driving conditions. NanaimoNewsNOW has already heard of several accidents around the city.

“A few centimetres here or there can really cause havoc.”

 

spencer.sterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit