The cold is here. East side Snowfall warning. Snowing in Ladysmith.

Updates… most recent at top.


Original Post

It is 0°C and the windchill so far this morning in Port Alberni has been down to -3°C. It will get colder. There is a snowfall warning.

The easterly outflow winds are blowing across the Strait onto the east side of the Island and that is going to produce snow squalls that could dump 5-15cm (2-6in) of snow anywhere from Courtenay to Duncan. Where and when is not easy to predict and will change throughout the day so stay alert.

If you are driving on the Inland Island Highway or Malahat, expect snow! There is already snow building over the Strait on the radar and some reaching the Island just south of Nanaimo and in Ladysmith.

Keep an eye on the radar and Drive BC cameras (click the images above) for where the snow is.

Port Alberni does not usually get snow from these types of events as we are protected by Mt. Arrowsmith and the Beauforts, but sometimes it trickles over into the far north reaches of the Valley.

It will feel cold though. Expect the temperature to drop all day. We will be down as low as -5°C by Monday morning and maybe lower. The cold is expected to last for a week and we might get more snow. Later next week.

I will post updates at the top of this page and on twitter through the day if something catches my eye. Take care out there. It is still winter!

About The Author