Snow starts falling in Vancouver Saturday morning; up to 5 cm forecast
Posted December 9, 2023 11:40 am.
Last Updated December 10, 2023 4:16 pm.
Heads up, Vancouver drivers: snow started falling late Saturday morning, and the entire Metro Vancouver region could see up to 5 cm of the white stuff throughout the day.
A Special Weather Statement has been issued for the province’s South Coast, saying the snow is forecast to continue into early evening, when significant warming is expected to transition any remaining snowfall back to rain.
“Rain will become mixed with snow at sea level; however, no significant accumulation is expected for most areas,” the statement says. “Accumulations of 2 to 5 cm are possible over higher elevations of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.”
CityNews has received calls saying the snow is sticking in some areas, including Surrey, White Rock, Tsawwassen, and Ladner.
Both TransLink and the City of Vancouver had already been salting roads and preparing for the snow before the first flakes were sighted.
Vancouver’s manager of street operations, Amy Sidwell, says the city takes its snow response seriously, and its plans include salting, brining, and plowing any impacted roads.
Sidwell says major roads and pedestrian pathways like the city’s sea walls are their top priority.
“During snow days, we encourage residents to only undertake essential travel,” she said. “If residents must be on the road, please give way to plows and salt and brine trucks.”
And don’t forget about your own sidewalks. The city is reminding property owners that they’re the ones responsible for clearing any snow and ice near their properties by 10 a.m. the day after snowfall.
For people taking transit, spokesperson Dan Mountain says TransLink will be monitoring the conditions closely. In the meantime, some buses have been switched out and anti-icing trucks have been dispatched for the trolley wires.
This is a developing story.
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