This weekB次元官网网址檚 wintry blast of snow in Metro Vancouver will likely remain on the ground, with below-average temperatures forecasted well into next week.
Environment Canada meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau says while temperatures may moderate slightly during the daytime over the weekend, whateverB次元官网网址檚 melted will likely refreeze at night.
That means the snow that fell along British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 South Coast this week wonB次元官网网址檛 disappear naturally from local streets for at least the next seven days.
Heavy snow and icy road conditions forced school districts in Victoria and North and West Vancouver to close their schools, while some Lower Mainland universities also closed campuses.
Charbonneau says the frigid temperatures and snow all stem from the same Arctic air mass that has settled over much of the province, resulting in extreme cold warnings along B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Rockies and in the Peace region.
Temperatures were below -30 Celsius in much of the Interior and the north, with temperatures dipping to -39 in Dawson Creek early Tuesday.
The BC Highway Patrol asked commuters to reconsider driving on Tuesday after a fresh dump of snow caused multiple collisions on Highway 1 near the Port Mann Bridge caused long delays on the major Metro Vancouver link.
Regional transportation operator TransLink suggested people build extra time into their commute due to road conditions B次元官网网址� something that motorists and commuters should watch out for in the next week as the cold temperature persists, Charbonneau says.
B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚) definitely a situation where we canB次元官网网址檛 really rely on mother nature to be our snow-clearing mechanism this time,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淚t is going to linger.B次元官网网址�
Charbonneau says while no more heavy snowfalls are in the forecast for Metro Vancouver, any system that brings moisture to the coast while the Arctic air mass is in place could trigger more snow B次元官网网址� something that isnB次元官网网址檛 out of the question.
B次元官网网址淎t this point, itB次元官网网址檚 very uncertain,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 nothing I can really point to to say, B次元官网网址榊es, weB次元官网网址檙e going to get another round of heavy snow.B次元官网网址� But as long as the cold air lingers, it is a possibility.
Charbonneau says the forecast is uncertain on when Metro Vancouver might return to more seasonal temperatures.
B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 really see a major warm-up on the horizon right now,B次元官网网址� she says.
B次元官网网址淪o, itB次元官网网址檚 hard to answer that question right now. B次元官网网址� WeB次元官网网址檒l be watching closely to see when we can see those conditions develop. But for now, it looks like weB次元官网网址檙e going to be experiencing cooler, wintry conditions for at least a week.B次元官网网址�
