Snowfall warning issued for North Coast Inland, Rain for Prince Rupert as system approaches

Weather Warnings are in effect for the North Coast Inland areas as a major
weather system prepares to pass across the Northwest on Sunday

Those travelling inland through Sunday will be in for some significant winter conditions as a low pressure system centred over Haida Gwaii directs snow to inland areas as it pushes its way onshore through the remainder of the weekend.

Environment Canada issued a Snowfall Warning for the inland areas of the  North Coast at just before 4:30 on Saturday afternoon, calling for up to 35 cm of snow for the Kitimat region and up to 20 cm for areas between Terrace and Smithers.

Adding to the weather mix will be warming conditions into Sunday evening that will make for freezing rain into Sunday night.

You can review the weather warnings here with the snow set to arrive this evening and carry through the majority of Sunday.

For the Prince Rupert area, wet snow will begin to accumulate tonight with up to 10 cm anticipated by Sunday, as the system transits across the North Coast that snow will change to rain, the first of what will an entire week of rain and much warmer temperatures.

Along with the rain, the winds will pick up along the coast, first from the Northeast up to 70 km/h tonight, shifting to the southeast at 70 km/h on Sunday as the warmer temperatures arrive.

Residential homeowners in the vicinity of storm drains near their property may want to do some preventive maintenance before the weather system arrives, ensuring that their drains are cleared of snow to allow for what should be a fast moving melt to have some place to go and lessen the prospect of lakes forming along city streets.

Our days of snow shovelling may soon be over as our more familiar
weather patterns make their return to the North Coast

Those travelling inland, Drive BC will offer up the latest in road conditions across the Highway 16 corridor, you can access that information from their website, or twitter feed and for updates from the string of highway cameras around the region see our archive page here.

The latest satellite images from Environment Canada as of 6 PM on Saturday  provide a look at the expanse of the system as it approaches landfall on the North Coast.

Looming off shore and about to approach Haida Gwaii a weather maker system
that will bring Snow to inland areas, with Rain and wind set for coastal areas

The winds may also impact on the BC Ferries schedule, should there be any Service Notices issued you can review them here.

A look back some of the weather notes of the last few weeks can be found on our archive page here.