Wind and snow have posed problems for ferry travellers and motorists the past few days and wintry conditions are going to stick around this week.
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement Monday afternoon, saying “a series of disturbances are set to bring more snow to the south coast this week.”
The east coast of Vancouver Island from Duncan to Campbell River will see a weak system approach from the northwest on Monday, the statement notes.
“Outflow winds through mainland coastal inlets and valleys will continue to drive cold arctic air into the Georgia Basin through much of the week…” says Environment Canada. “Northwesterly winds are expected to develop over the Strait of Georgia overnight and where these winds converge with strong outflows from mainland coastal inlets, locally heavier areas of snow are likely to develop. Localized areas from Nanaimo to Qualicum Beach, southern Texada Island, and Half Moon Bay to Sechelt could be affected overnight and on Tuesday.”
A second, more widespread system is predicted to reach the region Tuesday evening, bringing snow for much of the night.
“Mainland arctic outflow winds reaching the eastern coast of Vancouver Island will create the potential for increased snowfall amounts locally,” the statement notes.
A third system has been identified and could bring “a considerable amount of snow” to Vancouver Island on Thursday.
Bobby Sekhon, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said the Arctic air is expected to continue until the end of the week when it will give way to more average temperatures for this time of year.
“A larger system is expected on Tuesday night into Wednesday that could see as much as 12 more centimetres of snow,” Sekhon said.
“The coldest days this week will be on Monday and Tuesday, and then we’ll see temperatures start to modulate on Wednesday, but it will still be colder than average. We should be back to normal temperatures by the end of the weekend.”
— with a file from Robert Barron
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