Another wintry blast expected this weekend for South Coast, Interior

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Hope you didn’t let Friday’s sunshine fool you, we are in for some nasty weather this weekend.

Environment Canada has issued special a weather statement for all of Metro Vancouver thanks to a low pressure system hanging over the Pacific. It will move across the South Coast today.

“The mild moist air mass in combination with cooler air from the BC interior will give mixed precipitation to the region. Local wet snow or rain mixed with snow this morning will change over to rain this afternoon as freezing levels rise. Snowfall amounts could vary widely and will be highly dependent on precipitation intensity and elevation,” the agency says in a statement.

As much as 5 centimetres of heavy, wet snow is expected within a short amount of time in the central Fraser Valley, East Vancouver Island and inland parts of the island.

Forecasters predict the Howe Sound, Whistler and eastern Fraser Valley are more likely to see between 5 to 10 centimetres.

Another storm will approach the coast Saturday night and into Sunday. “Heavy rain from the storm will start tonight and continue Sunday and Monday. Strong winds will also accompany the storm and snowfall could be locally heavy inland,” says Environment Canada in the statement.

You’re being warned to slow down during this mess and to leave extra distance between you and the car in front of you.

Meantime, for anyone heading to the Interior, there’s a warning for anyone driving the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt. Meteorologists think the area will get up to 20 centimetres of snow by tonight and even more is expected Sunday when the next storm hits.

Don’t forget snow tires are mandatory until March 31st on all out of town highways.

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