Nanaimo's first taste of winter is set to get worse before it gets better according to Environment Canada meterologists. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

LET IT SNOW

Nanaimo braces for final punch in year’s first winter storm

Jan 14, 2020 | 2:44 AM

NANAIMO — Snowfall across the region is expected to get worse before it gets better.

Environment Canada metrologists revised earlier estimates and now forecast 10-15 centimetres of snow will fall on Tuesday, Jan. 14, paired with another 10 centimetres on Wednesday, Jan. 15.

“Travel will be very difficult at times due to rapidly accumulating snow,” Environment Canada’s Armel Castallan told NanaimoNewsNOW. “The nature of having that convergence of cold coming in from the interior and those Pacific pulses with the moisture.”

Snowfall was blamed for 16 minor crashes on city roads on Monday, as well as slippery side streets downtown and in the south end of Nanaimo.

Other impacts were relatively minor, including postponed garbage collection in some areas and re-routed buses.

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Castellan said new headaches are inbound for residents and travellers as the weather turns to a mix of rain and snow on Wednesday and Tuesday.

“It’s adding weight (to the snow) and won’t be flowing away to the gutter systems and the storm sewers of the city,” Castallan said. “Things like roof collapses started to become more frequent when we see two solid snow events with the rain as well on top of it.”

Forecasts call for daytime highs in Nanaimo to reach seven degrees by the weekend, aiding the melt but causing potential flooding issues for area roads and property.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley