Fraser Valley – New Years Day brought a windy start to 2020 and January 2 will not be any different.
Special weather statement in effect for:
- Fraser Valley – central including Chilliwack
- Fraser Valley – east including Hope
- Fraser Valley – west including Abbotsford
A strong Pacific storm is on the way for this afternoon and Friday for the BC coast.
The
storm will approach the coast today. Precipitation spreads onto
Vancouver Island late this morning and onto the south coast early this
afternoon. Strong southeasterly winds will also develop this afternoon.
Initially
temperatures will be cold enough to allow some of the precipitation to
start as wet snow over higher elevations of Vancouver Island and the
south coast.
By this evening warm air accompanying the storm will
drive freezing levels and temperatures higher so that precipitation
changes to rain for most communities. The exception may be Whistler and
the Sea to Sky Highway from Squamish to Whistler where snow could
persist longer.
The heavy rain and strong winds continue all day
on Friday. The highest rainfall amounts will be over the central coast,
north and west Vancouver Island. Areas of Squamish, northern sections of
Metro Vancouver, and the Fraser Valley will also significant amounts of
rainfall.
In areas where snow does accumulate, a higher chance of localized flooding is possible due to rain on snow.