Sloppy weekend of rain and snow will kick off B.C.'s ski season
Active weather returns to B.C. South Coast with rain and snow for the start of ski season
After a brief lull, rain and snow ramp up again across the B.C. South Coast, aligning perfectly with ski season openings at several resorts.
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Fresh snow will excite skiers as the wintry weather persists throughout the end of this week and beyond.
By Friday, heavier rain and snow are expected for the South Coast, with snow spreading into the Columbias and Rockies, lasting through Saturday.
Another system delivers more moisture Sunday afternoon, bringing heavier rain and snow to the South Coast by Sunday evening.
Freezing levels will also drop throughout the day Sunday, impacting the Coquihalla and Allison passes for the second half of the day, where we could see 10-20 cm of snow fall. By the overnight, freezing levels are forecast to sit at about 700 metres.
The freezing levels will then remain below the mountain passes into the midweek. Another round of moisture returns by Wednesday, but at a chilly cost as it is driven by a surge of Arctic air seeping over the provinces, sending temperatures to well below seasonal across B.C.
Despite the active weather pattern, precipitation at Vancouver International Airport remains below monthly averages. As of November 19, only 76.2 mm of rain has been reported, far short of the November average of 171.2 mm.
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November is typically the wettest month for Vancouver. Snowfall at the airport remains at 0 cm, compared to the average of 3.2 cm (1991–2020).
Rainy and snowy conditions are expected to persist as November concludes. Colder temperatures will allow for more snow for the alpine regions, however, many ski resorts may still need to capitalize on the colder conditions for snowmaking to prepare for openings.
As ski season kicks off, drivers are also advised to use caution as some interior highway passes may become snow-covered.
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Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across B.C.