7:30 AM Friday – Winter Storm Watch + Great Melt Coming

Fraser Valley – The snow will change to slush by the weekend, but first, the changeover to warmer weather will bring the risk of more snow and freezing rain before the slush and rain. Temperature by Sunday will hit between 6 and 9 degrees.

Temperatures will rise to Plus 1 with the threat of Freezing Rain and a possible 5cm of snow which will becomes rain.

Roger Pannett of Environment Canada told FVN that as of Thursday evening:

Snow heavy at times from 14.45 to 17.15. :- 9.2 cm.
Presently 31 cm on the ground.
Day 4 with sub zero temperatures.

5:07 AM PST Friday 17 January 2020
Winter storm watch in effect for:

• Fraser Valley – central including Chilliwack
• Fraser Valley – east including Hope
• Fraser Valley – west including Abbotsford

Winter Storm conditions possible overnight tonight and Saturday.

An approaching Pacific storm will bring a mixture of snow, freezing rain, and rain to the south coast beginning tonight and continuing Saturday. Strong winds will also accompany the storm.

The storm will arrive tonight with heavy snow beginning late this evening across the south coast. As warmer air associated with storm penetrates the region, the snow will begin to transition to rain. Timing this transition to rain is always challenging in these situations. There is a chance that this transition could be delayed resulting in higher snowfall amounts. It is also possible this transition will include a period of freezing rain.

In addition to heavy snow, freezing rain is also a significant threat from this storm. Over Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, and Whistler, temperatures near surface will likely remain slightly below zero due to cold outflow winds pouring out from the BC interior. This sets up ideal conditions for freezing rain as the warmer air overrides cold air trapped at the surface.

As a result as we move through late tonight and into Saturday, expect the snow to change or become mixed with freezing rain over these locations. It is uncertain how long this freezing rain could last as we transition to warmer temperatures rising above zero.