UPDATE: Snowfall Warning Friday, February 23

Environment Canada has upgraded the special weather statement for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley for Friday, February 23. It is now a snowfall warning:

• City of Vancouver – including Burnaby and New Westminster
• Metro Vancouver – northeast including Coquitlam and Maple Ridge
• Metro Vancouver – southeast including Surrey and Langley
• Metro Vancouver – southwest including Richmond and Delta
• North Shore – including West Vancouver and North Vancouver

(Special weather statement still in effect for the valley)

• Fraser Valley – central including Chilliwack
• Fraser Valley – east including Hope
• Fraser Valley – west including Abbotsford

Snowfall, with total amounts of about 10 cm is expected.

A trough of low pressure is poised to cross the south coast on Friday and with arctic air lingering, more snow is expected.

Snowfall is expected to begin Friday morning and taper off late in the afternoon. Strong southeasterly winds blowing through Georgia Strait will usher in some relatively warmer air along the immediate coast and it is possible that some areas see mixed snow and rain in the afternoon. However, the majority of Metro Vancouver as well as Howe Sound are forecast to see snow.

Snow should taper off late in the day with periods of light snow, possibly mixed with drizzle, continuing into the evening. Further inland where surface temperatures are expected to remain at or below the freezing mark, a risk of freezing drizzle will exist.

Snowfall amounts will range from 5 to 10 cm along the immediate coast to more than 10 cm inland.

A second disturbance will move across the region Friday night bringing a good possibility of flurries.

Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas.