Update: Getting worse on East side. Snow heavy some places, bust elsewhere.

Update: 9:04AM they finally issued a snowfall warning for the East Coast. I’ve just spent the past hour in Parksivlle and it has gotten very windy and the snow is really coming down now and its sticking. If you don’t have to come over here today. I would advise NOT.

The Bus drivers are telling each other not to go to Nanaimo


End Update

So we didn’t end up getting as much as was predicted..

Correction: depending where you are in town, and what time it is, you might have gotten or are getting a little, or a lot.

It looks like the intensity of the front just wasn’t what was anticipated at least for our immediate area., was not broad but has been and continues to be intense in pockets. It’s all about temperature. Sproat Lake got a little more than I did. Maquinna has 4 inches. Other parts of the Island did as well. Burnaby got 9 inches!

That said, the storm wasn’t a total bust. The wind hit Ucluelet hard and many ferries are cancelled this morning.

There are parts of Highway 4 and Highway 19 that are both covered and totally clear. There are areas where it is rain and others where it is a blizzard.

There is still more coming. Here is the Satellite picture:

20121219-080604.jpg

Depending where you are and how strong the wind is, there could still be more snow especially if the intensity picks up a bit.

Environment Canada is also continuing their Snowfall Warning for Inland Vancouver Island so clearly there is still a chance we will get significantly more snow for a few more hours.

Warnings

Inland Vancouver Island
8:01 AM PST Wednesday 19 December 2012
Snowfall warning for
Inland Vancouver Island continued

Significant snowfall for today.

This is a warning that significant snowfall is expected or occurring in these regions. Monitor weather conditions..listen for updated statements.

A vigorous frontal system crossing Vancouver Island is bringing snow to much of the South Coast. Amounts near sea level have generally been fairly light but increase quickly with a little elevation and as one travels inland. Amounts of 5 to 10 cm have fallen across higher terrain areas even along Eastern Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast. Further amounts over the higher terrain will be in the 5 to 10 cm range before snow changes to rain later this morning along the coast. Further inland snow will continue into early afternoon as the colder air is a little deeper. The greatest amounts are expected to be near Whistler with between 20 and 30 cm through Thursday morning. As well strong gusty winds are expected near the water with gusts to 70-80 km/h and to spread inland through the day. In parts of the Fraser Valley local reduced visibilities in blowing snow can be expected.

Motorists and pedestrians should exercise extreme caution and alter travel plans accordingly where snowfall warnings have been issued. Untreated surfaces will be slippery, resulting in treacherous travelling conditions.

Reports of severe weather can be made via Twitter. Tweet your significant weather report and location to #bcstorm.

If you don’t have to go anywhere today, it is probably a good idea not to. It should warm up more this morning and turn everything to rain and slush, but it will still be messy.

On the bright side, they closed VIU is morning. Which means once I get home I can maybe fiddle with getting my anemometer (wind gauge) online. In case you missed it last night, my weather station is back online. The Almanac and Graphs will take a day or two to correct themselves as the data fills back in but the current conditions are good to go minus the wind which will be good once I can get on the roof without risking life and limb. 🙂

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3 thoughts on “Update: Getting worse on East side. Snow heavy some places, bust elsewhere.

  1. Chris, I wrote my earlier comments this morning from home, and then when I got to work in South Port it’s a different story down here! At home in North Port there was barely half an inch of fresh slush, but as soon as you cross the dip there’s snow everywhere and still coming down! What a difference half a degree makes!

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