A snowfall warning is in effect for Nanaimo and Oceanside, with five to 10 centimetres expected beginning Wednesday night. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

ROUND TWO

Environment Canada upgrades forecast, issues snowfall warning for Nanaimo & Oceanside

Dec 29, 2021 | 6:10 AM

NANAIMO — Here we go again.

After first posting a special weather statement, Environment Canada has upgraded its assessment and issued a snowfall warning for eastern Vancouver Island, including Nanaimo and Oceanside.

The warning focuses on forecasted heavy snow due in the region overnight on Wednesday, Dec. 29.

“The current forecast suggests widespread five to 10 centimetres of snow is likely,” the warning read. “However, there is the potential for locally heavier amounts particularly over the Sunshine Coast, North Shore Mountains, and parts of Vancouver Island.”

Most of the snowfall will occur in a three to six hour period, according to Environment Canada.

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Frigid temperatures are expected to accompany the system, with overnight lows down to around minus six with a windchill of minus 11.

It comes on the heels of multiple days of heavy snow across the region which caused significant issues for local road crews.

Conditions on area roads improved a great deal on Tuesday, Dec. 28 and into Wednesday with no additional accumulations to deal with.

Local highways in the Nanaimo region were partially clear with salted, bare pavement in one lane and compacted snow elsewhere.

Many main side roads were also dealt with as trucks moved into more residential areas.

“Crews have been out continuously since Christmas Eve maintaining priority 1 routes, a release from the City of Nanaimo read. “Local roads are packed snow and winter driving conditions continue. Residents can expect local roads to remain packed snow driving surface for the foreseeable future as temperatures continue to be well below freezing.”

Priority one routes include emergency and main roads, priority two roads are secondary corridors while the final priority are niche residential cul-de-sacs and dead end streets.

Nanaimo Airport’s monitoring station recorded 38.6 centimetres of snow between Dec. 23-27, however more accumulation was noted inside Nanaimo city limits and parts north.

Residents in many areas observed well over 50 centimetres.

The extended forecast for the mid-Island sees continued unsettled conditions into the New Year, however temperatures are due to return above zero with snow turning to rain.

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