Vancouver Weather: Very heavy snow possible in several days

Metro Vancouverites may see snowfall for the first time this winter as a storm is expected to bring moisture to the region.

Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Erven says the region will experience a “drastic” transition from the last three weeks with bone door.

“We’re on our way to a big shift in the weather, with the first robust system that affects (the region) on Thursday 30 January,” she says via

As the first “robust system” hits BC’s south coast on Thursday, precipitation falls like rain or flurries all day.

“Most of (rainfall) should fall like rain, but the freezing levels are low, so there is a chance that it will freeze,” she notes.

If the rainfall begins to fall early Thursday morning, it freezes, resulting in flurries in higher heights, including North Shore and Burnaby Mountain. There may also be some flurries at the sea surface (depending on the timing of the event).

Precipitation is expected to fall all day, ease in rain later in the evening and continue overnight until Friday.

Metro Vancouver forecast includes potential snowfall when February begins

Erven says that a lazy, low -pressure system that sits above Vancouver Island will bring bursts of rainfall to the lower mainland that starts Saturday or Sunday and continues through Tuesday or Wednesday.

“It has all the ingredients for low height snow on Saturday with cool temperatures and moisture,” she notes.

As the system is weak, the timing and intensity of the event remain uncertain. However, the message of “very heavy” snow is possible as temperatures dip more degrees below seasonal average. It is more likely that the snow arrives in bursts in certain neighborhoods rather than widespread snowfall across Metro Vancouver.

“We can’t see the details more clearly before 24 hours before the event,” she explains.

The meteorologist says weather models do not indicate a clear signal after the middle of the next week. If the high -pressure ridge in the BC interior remains, temperatures remain freed. If it moves into the prairies, conditions can start to warm up.

Vancouver and Abbotsford experience their third-driest January on the record. However, monthly statistics are expected to change after rainfall on Thursday and Friday.

Keep up to date with hyper -room forecasts in 50 neighborhoods on the lower mainland with VIA’s Weatherhood.