A little push of winter is on its way for the central Island but don't expect snow for Christmas. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

WINTER IS COMING

Despite snow coming, forecasters ‘fairly confident’ of green Christmas for central Island

Dec 16, 2022 | 5:36 AM

NANAIMO — While the shovels will likely be needed soon, it’s unlikely you’ll need to clear a path in the snow for St. Nick.

Arctic air is forecast to move into the central Island region beginning Sunday, Dec. 18 and drop daytime highs a few degrees below freezing. Periods of snow beginning early next week is also included in the look ahead.

Trevor Smith, meteorologist with Environment Canada said despite the pre-Christmas flurry and freeze, little is expected to remain for Santa’s visit.

“We’ll probably be done with the Arctic air and finally into a more consistent southwest flow from the Pacific, which we really haven’t seen a lot of this fall,” Smith told NanaimoNewsNOW. “I’d be fairly confident it’s going to be a green Christmas over much of the Island and the south coast.”

Smith said he wasn’t overly confident in the snowfall totals for the Nanaimo and Oceanside regions early next week, with most of the accumulation expected on the south Island and through the Lower Mainland.

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It’s the days leading up to Kris Kringle’s excursion which could prove a little problematic.

Following a forecasted dump of snow and days of frigid temps, the southwest flow will warm things back up to a more seasonal single digit daytime high.

Smith said it could cause some issues for holiday travellers.

“It’s when we get into Wednesday (Dec. 21) and Thursday (Dec. 22), that’s when we see what we call the Maritime Transition, more of a Pacific air mass flowing over that Arctic air starting Wednesday, so I’m expecting a messy transition from snow to rain over the Wednesday-Thursday period.”

Freezing rain and winds are also a possibility depending on temperature swings and the strength of any systems moving into the region.

Smith said a better idea of specific conditions for the holiday’s is expected by early next week.

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