A storm system which moved in Thursday night is expected to mix with cool arctic air and likely provide a quick taste of winter on Friday. (The Weather Network)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Stormy punch

Brief, intense storm to create tricky driving conditions for Island motorists

Oct 23, 2020 | 7:26 AM

NANAIMO — It won’t last for long, but an earlier than expected winter-like storm will create some travel headaches for some parts of the Island.

Cool air from the arctic is forecast to clash with a moist Pacific system creating chances of high elevation snowfall and tricky highway driving conditions.

Armel Castellan, Environment Canada meteorologist, told NanaimoNewsNOW overnight lows will likely send the barrier between snow and rain closer to sea level than normal for this time of year.

“The freezing levels are going to creep south, down to 400-500 metres is likely so anything above that could see a dusting if not a proper snow coating.”

Highway passes between Port Alberni and Coombs and sections of northern Vancouver Island will likely see the highest accumulations. Mt. Washington is expecting around five centimetres of snow.

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A light dusting is also expected near the top of Mt. Benson in Nanaimo.

Although unlikely, should snow fall at Nanaimo airport, it would be just the fourth time in recorded history in the month of October. Previous snow events took place through late October in 1991, 1984 and 1935.

“Snow this early is quite rare, we’re not expecting it…at the Nanaimo airport but certainly for those driving up and down the highways of the northern half of Vancouver Island, it’s a good reminder to be prepared for winter driving conditions,” Castellan said.

The early winter-like blast is a prelude to what forecasters expect to be a wet and cold winter.

Castellan said there is a high probability of a La Nina-style winter meaning high likelihood of below normal temperatures which would skew the seasonal rain/snow balance.

“That really translates to lower freezing levels and a higher ratio of snow to rain and that’s when snow down to sea elevation starts to become more and more likely.”

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