Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued a special weather statement for parts of Metro Vancouver as it believes snow will stick for the first time this season.
CityNews Meteorologist Michael Kuss explains the freezing level across the region will dip to about 200 metres Saturday morning.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see snow or mixed precipitation around Metro Vancouver even close to sea level but not sticking,” he said.
“At higher elevations on the North Shore and in the Tri-Cities slushy snow could stick, at least for a few hours.”
The statement released Friday morning echoed Kuss, saying snow is expected for neighbourhoods at higher elevations in Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster.
“On Saturday, a frontal system will move onto the South Coast. Rain will begin Saturday morning and become mixed with snow Saturday afternoon. Wet snow may reach sea level but, generally, no significant accumulation is expected for most areas.
“Accumulations of 2 to 4 cm are possible over higher elevations of Metro Vancouver, such as the North Shore, Coquitlam, and Burnaby Mountain,” ECCC said in its statement.
However, don’t expect the snow to stick around — ECCC is expecting temperatures to rise quickly Saturday evening, and any snow will “transition back to rain” with freezing levels rising to nearly 2,000 metres.
Kuss explains snow is basically “guaranteed” for mountain passes in southern B.C., and the Sea to Sky region north of Squamish.
“Expect 10 to 15 centimetres through Saturday. The North Shore ski hills should get 10 to 20 centimetres of snow,” he said.
The special weather statement comes as Grouse Mountain’s lifts will begin to turn for the first time Friday, joining Cypress Mountain in opening for the 2023/24 winter season.
source & photo : CityNews
