Next winter storm takes aim at B.C. with a snow, freezing rain risk into Friday

After a historically snowy day that hit B.C.’s South Coast on Wednesday, eyes are already on the next messy winter storm, which threatens more snow, rain, freezing rain and ice pellets to end this week. Multiple commute times will likely be impacted, and drivers are urged to plan for the changing conditions. Especially after as much as 30 cm of snow fell with the first round this week.

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) reported 27 cm of snowfall by Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest January day on record and the snowiest since Dec. 29, 1996. Surprisingly, Vancouver has now seen a heavier snowfall than many major Canadian cities for the 2023/2024 winter so far.

Higher totals were found inland from YVR, where31 cm was documented in Port Coquitlam, and 29 cm was reported in Surrey. Travel was heavily interrupted during the day, including delayed and cancelled flights, alongside numerous power outages.

DRIVERS BEWARE: Check current road conditions if you have to travel

Now, the next storm is on deck.

Thursday and Friday: More snow, freezing rain and ice pellets to contend with

Another low-pressure system is churning toward the coast, and this time, Pacific air will win out, eventually. The risk of freezing rain is elevated across some areas.

As the system moves close to the coast on Thursday, precipitation will start over Vancouver Island through the late morning. The west side of Vancouver Island will start as rain, whereas the mountains, the eastside of Vancouver Island and Victoria will start as snow.

Some of these areas could pick up 10-20 cm of snow by Friday morning.

Victoria will quickly transition to rain through the afternoon hours, with surrounding areas holding on a bit longer, such as Victoria airport and the Malahat. This could enhance snowfall totals there.

There is the risk for an area of freezing rain on south Vancouver Island through Thursday afternoon and evening, even for areas along Highway 19 as they transition from snow to rain.

Metro Vancouver has the chance to see snow flurries, or even some freezing drizzle, late Thursday afternoon and evening, but the warmer air gets ushered in, transitioning to rain quickly. Rain will persist through the day on Friday.

Areas further east, including Abbotsford and through the eastern Fraser Valley, will hold onto the colder air at the surface, which will bring the risk of persistent freezing rain through the overnight hours. Some areas in the eastern Fraser Valley may hold onto those colder temperatures into Friday afternoon, as well, resulting in a prolonged freezing rain event.

There’s a risk that some areas could see 5-10 mm of ice accretion, which can cause power outages and some tree damage, on top of the slippery and icy driving conditions.

Storm drains that aren’t properly cleaned from the 30 cm of snow that has already fallen will see a risk of localized flooding, with the addition of up to 30 mm of rainfall across the area.

An active and unsettled pattern will continue into the weekend and through most of next week. Mild Pacific air will take over through the end of January, with snow levels rising to 1000-1500+ metres, resulting in snow and rain for South Coast ski areas.

Thumbnail courtesy of Brianna T, taken at Stanley Park, B.C.

Stay with The Weather Network for more updates and information on your forecast in B.C.