As BC’s South Coast continues to be battered by ongoing snowstorms, freezing rain and even more snow is anticipated to fall over parts of Metro Vancouver.
CBC News reported that although the second of two snowstorms came later than predicted Friday, it still managed to choke and complicate traffic conditions. Reportedly, ice slicks left behind by the storms caused buses to slide uncontrollably and block off parts of the road. The Insurance Corp. of BC (ICBC) call center was reportedly swamped with reports of minor collisions and damaged vehicles, taking over 5,000 calls.
The news program producer additionally noted that although coastal temperatures in Vancouver were warm enough for the precipitation to form into rain, an Arctic outflow is causing sustained snowfall at higher elevations and over eastern parts of Metro Vancouver. Environment Canada added that this outflow would bring strong, frigid winds to inland sections of the North Coast and Central B.C.
Portions of Metro Vancouver, as well as the tri-cities Port Moody, Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, were cautioned to anticipate roughly 10 centimeters of snow on Saturday.
Environment Canada also issued its warnings, notifying the city of Abbotsford of a risk of freezing rain that could occur Saturday evening.
“The cold air unfortunately has its grip over the Fraser Valley and eastern sections of Metro Vancouver,” Environment Canada meteorologist Jonathan Bau told
CBC News.
The Fraser Valley area around Abbotsford is projected to receive another 10 centimeters of snowfall from Saturday evening to Sunday.
Bau advised that next week would feature cold, but dry weather. He also surmised that temperatures the following week could drop as low as -10° C - possibly even breaking records.
Environment Canada has additionally forecasted rain to occur a week before Christmas, but Bau noted that temperatures in the Fraser Valley could remain low enough to keep snow on the ground.
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