North Shore mountains looking good for Family Day skiing, snow in forecast

With snow in the forecast for higher elevations in the Lower Mainland this weekend, hitting the slopes on Family Day might just be the best place to be.

CityNews Meteorologist Michael Kuss says while Metro Vancouver’s urban areas will see showers and rain beginning Thursday, snow will be hitting the peaks.

“If skiing or riding is in your plans for the Family Day long weekend, we’ll set it up with some snow that comes in tonight through the overnight and tomorrow morning at Whistler, on the North Shore ski hills, and into the Interior as well,” he said.

While not a whole lot of precipitation is expected from Friday afternoon through to Sunday, Kuss notes Sunday evening to Monday will see the snow start again.

“We could see some weak snow in fits and starts all the way through, especially Sunday, and then tapering off first thing Monday.”

Kuss says down at sea level, temperatures could hover around 6 C to 9 C degrees as daily highs through the weekend, with even some sun popping out on Monday afternoon.

“I do have some showers in there early in the morning on Friday. Saturday. It looks drier than Sunday. Sunday’s wetter into the afternoon and evening and then it dries out heading into Monday afternoon,” he said.

If you’re planning to head over B.C.’s southern mountain passes though, you might want to reconsider your plans.

Kuss says travelling Thursday and Friday into the Interior might not be “the best time to go.”

“Snow will be falling up over the Coquihalla, the connector, and a lot of the mountain passes over the next 24 hours tonight, tapering off tomorrow. The better getaway day is tomorrow — Friday into the afternoon. In fact, it’ll be quite quiet with some sun on the way, and Monday [when you’re] returning, it shouldn’t be that bad. Monday afternoon it dries out across the area.”