Changing conditions Friday and into Saturday could cause some travel hiccups for those heading off for the holidays. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

wet weekend

Potential travel issues flagged in mid-Island holiday forecast

Dec 22, 2022 | 5:17 AM

NANAIMO — When heading outside to enjoy Santa’s latest round of gifts this Christmas Day, bring an umbrella.

Despite technically qualifying as a “white Christmas” by meeting the official definition of having more than two centimetres of snow on the ground, Environment Canada’s look ahead to the holiday weekend calls for extensive rain across the mid-Island.

Meteorologist Trevor Smith told NanaimoNewsNOW the final punch of Arctic air combined with Pacific precipitation begins Thursday, Dec. 22.

“We’re looking at more snow beginning Thursday night, continuing into Friday morning…probably at least five centimetres. Then sometime Friday afternoon and into Friday evening, we could see a transition into rain with possible freezing rain or ice pellets mixed in.”

It will make the Friday evening commute messy, with variable driving conditions from rain to snow depending on elevation.

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A change in pattern also offers the chance for stronger than normal winds, however there are no significant gusts presently forecast prior to Christmas.

Christmas Eve Saturday, as well as Christmas Day and the week following will bring considerable rainfall to the Nanaimo and Oceanside region.

“Looks like wet days and much milder with highs getting closer to average, somewhere around six or seven degrees,” Smith added.

Travellers are advised to keep a close eye on highway and/or ferry conditions prior to setting out, and plan for delays.

Weather has already snarled many holiday plans, with travellers out of Vancouver International Airport delayed for several hours, and largely having their flights cancelled, as a result of the snow storm earlier this week.

2022 marks the third winter in a row of a La Nina pattern, according to Smith, which “stacks the deck” toward harsher than normal winter conditions.

Last year saw a parade of snow storms which dumped nearly a metre of snow in some areas of Nanaimo either side of Christmas.

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