Weather Notification, BC Coast Weekend Snow, January 23-24, 2021

Issued Wednesday January 20th 2021 at 1445 PST

Weather Event Impacts:

• Challenging travel/driving conditions
• Potential for power outages if snow becomes heavy
• Health concerns for the most vulnerable population, due to near/colder than average weather

Timing:

• A weather system is on its way from the Gulf of Alaska, beginning on Saturday afternoon (23rd) for North Coast and overnight into Sunday (24th) for Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland

Key Points:

• Seasonal winter temperatures are finally arriving into BC this week. Lower level cold air is one key ingredient for a coastal snow event.
• How much moisture this Pacific storm generates and therefore the intensity of precipitation falling is the main point of uncertainty, still three days out. Higher intensity = better chance of snow down to sea level.
• Temperatures overnight will likely hover above and below 0⁰C and areas near the Salish Sea could see a mix of rain and snow.
• Snow amounts are going to be highly variable and are most likely at higher elevations and further away from the coast.
• Daytime temperatures on Sunday will trend positive and promote a mix in precipitation.
• The snow event remains too far out to mention snowfall amount ranges at this point.
• Outlook: Temperatures remain seasonally cool next week. There is significant disagreement in the numerical model guidance but there is a chance for a second snow event for the coast on Tuesday-Wednesday. Details to emerge.

Forecast Certainty:

Low: There remains considerable uncertainty with regards to the timing and snowfall amounts particularly for regions near sea level and near the coast
High: Accumulating snow for the Fraser Valley and higher elevations on the coast and overall colder pattern

For updates, please monitor upcoming weather forecast and possible warnings:
Weather Warnings: www.weather.gc.ca/warnings/index_e.html?prov=bc
ECCC Daily Weather Blog: www.avalanche.ca/weather
Drive BC Road Conditions: www.drivebc.ca
Winter Weather Preparedness: www.getprepared.gc.ca