While some regions of the province, like Sun Peak and the Interior, have already seen snowfall, a broader picture of the white stuff is advancing toward British Columbia.
Snow already fell in the Rocky Mountains at the end of August, but now patience is being rewarded for the south coast.
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There was some dust on Grouse Mountain on October 18, but this time we expect much more. This is an encouraging sign for ski area preparations and opening day goals, with more snowfall likely in the coming weeks.
Snow is coming to parts of BC this week
The first significant snowfall of the season is approaching local ski resorts on Vancouver Island and around the Lower Mainland.
Cold air from the Bering Sea will merge with a storm system moving in from the Gulf of Alaska, keeping freezing levels below 3,000 feet on Wednesday.
This pattern is more typical of later, mid-November, in terms of freezing levels, but it is not unprecedented either.
While the low pressure system weakens as it runs parallel to the coast, it will still deliver the first meaningful snow of the season to the Coastal Mountains.
The heaviest snow is expected during the Wednesday evening and overnight hours, before turning to snow showers early Thursday.
Four to eight inches of snow is possible at North Shore ski areas, with more than a foot of snow on the higher elevations of Mount Washington.
Poor driving conditions are expected on higher terrain above the snow line, with winter tires mandatory on many higher routes in the province.
This is an encouraging sign for ski area preparations and opening day goals, with more snowfall likely in the coming weeks.
This is an encouraging trend early in the season, especially in contrast to the slow start to the ski season last year.
Fast facts about the south coast of the mountains
Grouse mountain
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Annual snowfall: 870 cm
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Highest altitude: 1,231 m
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Longest run: three km (Peak-The Cut)
Cypress mountain
Mount Seymour
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Annual snowfall: 1,000 cm
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Highest altitude: 1449 m
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Longest run: two km (Brockton Gully-Manning-Rookies)
Whistler Blackcomb
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Annual snowfall: 1,040 cm
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Highest altitude: 2436 m
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Longest route: 11 km (Peak-to-Creek).
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This is one of the longest continuous routes in North America.
Put on Washington
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Annual snowfall: 1,100 cm
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Highest altitude: 1588 m
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Longest route: 3.8 km (Linton’s Loop)
With files from Tyler Hamilton, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
As excitement builds for the upcoming ski season, stay tuned to The Weather Network for updated opening dates in the coming weeks.
