By Canadian Press

Southern B.C. sees snow at higher levels as incoming rainstorm meets arctic cold

Oct 24, 2023 | 11:42 AM

VANCOUVER — The first major snowfall of the season could blanket higher elevations of Vancouver Island with up to 10 centimetres of snow as an eastbound rainstorm meets a westbound blast of arctic air over British Columbia’s south coast.

Environment Canada has posted special weather statements for inland, northern and eastern parts of Vancouver Island, warning that rain could fall as snow on the highest elevations of Highways 4, 19, 28 and the Malahat Summit as the two systems brush, although no snow was expected at sea level.

The weather office also warns that up to 70 millimetres of rain, at times mixed with snow, could drench the area from Nanaimo to Duncan by early Wednesday, while arctic winds gusting to 90 km/h will sweep down Howe Sound.

The same frigid system pushing cold air to the coast has also hit the Interior, and Environment Canada forecasts five to 15 centimetres of snow on southern Interior highway passes by late Tuesday. 

Wintry conditions are in effect across north-central B.C., as wind chill values in Prince George made conditions feel as cold as -20 C to start the day, while the weather office says the central coast community of Bella Bella set a record low temperature of -1.1 C before climbing above freezing later Tuesday. 

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The record low ends a balmy October in Bella Bella, which started the month with three consecutive weeks of temperatures in the mid- to high teens and three days of heat above 20 C.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2023.

The Canadian Press