Expect a few more inches of snow on top of already icy areas on Saturday, with a second system poised to enter the central Island region. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

round two

Second snowfall forecast for Nanaimo & Oceanside

Feb 24, 2023 | 1:34 PM

NANAIMO — Meteorologists say the region is “pre-conditioned” for another snowy punch this weekend.

Environment Canada is calling for another significant snowfall beginning overnight Friday, Feb. 24 into Saturday, Feb. 25 following a week of very cold temperatures courtesy of an Arctic outflow pattern.

Armel Castellan said Friday will see the current dry pattern abate, making way for heavy snow on Saturday and warming on Sunday.

“Saturday’s the big event itself, we could see five to 10 centimetres but as usual a little bit of variety for locations closest to the water and those a little bit amplified by the terrain or just elevation alone because the temperatures could be around zero or one degree on Saturday.”

Winds are also expected to be a factor, with forecasts suggesting gusts upwards of 50 kilometres per hour by the water on Saturday.

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It is poised to be the final significant snowfall of the winter, with little in the long-term forecast to suggest another extended period of cool conditions mixed with precipitation.

Regardless, meteorologists seem in line with local groundhogs and marmots in predicting an extended winter.

“We do see another couple of systems slinking down from the Alaska panhandle and with that we expect some remnant raindrops on Monday. We’re still seeing these probabilities of below seasonal values right through at least the first half of March, if not the entirety of March.”

The lone saving grace for those who live on Vancouver Island to escape harsh Canadian winters? The sun.

“In the sunny breaks, the sun angle is quite a bit higher than it was near the solstice, so you will feel the warmth of the sun regardless of the outside temperature from now, right through the spring,” Castellan added.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement regarding Saturday’s snowfall, advising of between five to 15 centimetres for parts of eastern Vancouver Island.

Flurries are expected to fly through very early Sunday morning.

— with files from Jon de Roo, 97.3 The Eagle

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