Parts of Vancouver Island are forecast to get snow on Saturday morning, and elsewhere is expected to get a windstorm, according to Environment Canada.
Malahat Highway, Inland Vancouver Island, East Vancouver Island – Courtenay to Campbell River and Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay have been issued a special weather statement for snow on Saturday, while North Vancouver Island has been issued a wind warning the same day.
Snow warning
Over higher terrain and inland areas near the coast up to 2 centimetres of snow is possible, then further inland up to 10 cm is possible over higher terrain starting on Saturday morning.
Port Alberni is forecast to get up to 5 cm of snow.
“Rain will begin tonight (Friday) or early Saturday morning and become mixed with snow Saturday morning,” Environment Canada says in a notice on its website.
“Wet snow may reach sea level but generally no significant accumulation is expected for most areas. Local 2 cm accumulations are possible away from the coast. 5 to 10 cm is expected for Inland Vancouver Island with the largest amounts over higher elevations.”
Later on Saturday, temperatures are expected to warm and snow will transition to rain.
Wind warning
Early Saturday morning into late in the day, there will be southeast winds of 80 km/h gusting to 110 km/h.
“Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage,” Environment Canada says in a notice on its website. “High winds may result in power outages and fallen tree branches.”
RELATED: BC Hydro warns of increased power outage risks due to wildfires, drought
BC Hydro has recommendations to prepare to stay safe through a power outage.
These include building an emergency kit to last your family for 72 hours, and making an outage plan so everyone in the household knows what to do in the event of a power outage.
Have you thought about what to do in the event of a power outage? Plan ahead and create an outage plan. https://t.co/0QkzfwjJIo pic.twitter.com/DC2CYFC1PL
— BC Hydro (@bchydro) December 7, 2023
Laura Brougham
