Around 10 centimetres of snow is expected by Environment Canada for the Nanaimo and Oceanside regions, beginning Tuesday evening. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

snow storm

Snowfall warning issued for Nanaimo & Oceanside ahead of wintery mess

Jan 16, 2024 | 8:36 AM

NANAIMO — Expect snow, rain, freezing rain or even all three if we’re particularly fortunate over the next 24 to 48 hours.

Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for the Nanaimo and Oceanside regions early Tuesday, Jan. 16 with an approaching frontal system from the Pacific Ocean poised to clash with Arctic air already in place.

Around 10 centimetres of snow is expected by Environment Canada on eastern Vancouver Island, with higher accumulations on the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast. Other forecasting models are predicting much more.

“A Pacific low pressure system is expected to bring widespread snow to the south coast tonight [Tuesday] into Wednesday [Jan. 17],” the weather alert read. “Snow may become mixed with rain over Greater Victoria on Wednesday afternoon before easing late in the afternoon or early evening.”

Environment Canada also warns the system could make driving particularly challenging in both cities and highways.

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Travellers along the Malahat Hwy. in particular are asked to take extra caution.

“Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions.”

Both Nanaimo and Oceanside are forecast to warm up considerably beginning Wednesday night and into Thursday, Jan. 18 with forecasted daytime highs and overnight lows well above freezing.

The result will see the persistent Pacific system deliver rain instead of snow through to early next week.

It’s a more seasonal forecast for the region, which is exiting a record-breaking cold snap for mid-January with three weather-related records set and a pair of energy consumption records also broken.

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