Snow appears to be the early-Christmas gift that keeps on giving in the Lower Mainland.
In a “special weather statement” for Metro Vancouver, Environment Canada says a Pacific front will move into the south coast on Saturday night and it is bringing with it a load of snow that will continue to fall through Sunday.
“The Arctic air that has been with us for nearly two weeks will finally be flushed out by milder Pacific air. Snow will gradually change to rain beginning Sunday night,” the statement said. “As usual, snowfalls will be highly variable with higher amounts expected inland and over higher terrain.”
Be prepared for some chilly temperatures on Saturday, Environment Canada says we will hit a high of minus-2 C with an overnight low of minus-7 C.
Metro Vancouver can expect rain and high of 7 C on Monday, with the exception of eastern sections of the Fraser Valley and from Squamish to Whistler where temperatures will remain low enough that snow may persist well into Monday.
There is also risk of freezing rain for the Fraser Valley.
If you are hoping for a white Christmas, the Weather Network says you may be in luck. The network’s 14-day forecast is calling for a mix of showers and flurries on Dec. 25, with more snow expected to fall on Boxing Day.
The city of Vancouver says its salt trucks will be ready to go into action and city crews are on call to respond to weekend snowstorm.
So far this December, the city has applied more than 230,000 liters of brine and 5,172 tonnes of salt.
The city is reminding property owners and tenants that they are responsible for clearing snow and ice from the sidewalks around the property by 10 a.m., the morning following a snowfall. Those unable to clear their sidewalks can call 311 and request assistance from the city’s Snow Angels program, which connects volunteer shovellers with elderly or disabled neighbours who have trouble clearing their sidewalks, by dialing 3-1-1.
Registration to become a volunteer can be done via the app, VanConnect, or by visiting the city’s website. Once registered, volunteers receive requests from a Snow Angel coordinator to clear snow and ice from neighbours’ sidewalks.
Source: VancouverSun
