Snow falls across B.C. as province gets 'taste of wintry weather'
Snowfall hit many communities across B.C. on Saturday, from the West Coast to the Kootenay and Okanagan regions.
Environment Canada had issued a series of weather warnings over the course of the day, as a frontal system brought wind and snow to several parts of the province.
The B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure reminded motorists to "stay safe on the roads," in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, as the province got "a taste of wintry weather."
For highways through several mountain passes, the department's DriveBC website warned of slushy and slippery conditions.
Snow blankets a mobile home park in South Surrey, B.C. on Saturday. (Janella Hamilton/CBC)
In Metro Vancouver, up to about five centimetres of snow is forecast, which Environment Canada warns will cause reduced visibility and slushy or slippery road conditions.
"The snow will initially melt on contact with the surface, reducing the total snowfall accumulation," the warning stated. "However, where precipitation rates are highest, near 5 cm of snow will accumulate."
"Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow."
The Sunshine Coast, east and inland Vancouver Island, Malahat Highway and Port Alberni are expected to see between two to 10 centimetres of snow before it turns to rain Saturday evening.
Snow is pictured in a Prince George, B.C., neighbourhood on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. (Andrew Kurjata/CBC News)
Snowfall warnings have also been issued for the North Okanagan, Shuswap and North Thompson, where about 10 centimetres is forecasted, as well as for the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District, Stuart-Nechako, Prince George and the Cariboo.
Strong winds, with gusts from 70 to 110 kilometres per hour, are expected along the Central Coast, North Coast and Haida Gwaii by early Saturday afternoon.
A pedestrian walks through a snow-dusted field near Cranbrook, B.C., on Saturday. (Corey Bullock/CBC)
