Vancouverites may face another snow event as some arctic air makes its way into southern British Columbia.
Following a few days of sunshine, an arctic air mass is expected to reach the Lower Mainland by Saturday (Dec. 17) night, bringing frigid temperatures and the chance of snowfall.
But there is a fair amount of uncertainty in the forecast -- particularly when it comes to the snowfall, Environment Canada meteorologist Trevor Smith told Vancouver Is Awesome.
The national weather forecaster expects the "threat for snow" will take place between late Saturday through Monday, as temperatures fall across Metro Vancouver.
"Definitely the message is to stay tuned to Environment Canada's forecast and be prepared for winter weather," Smith noted, adding that there is always uncertainty when forecasting weather events more than three to five in advance, particularly when it concerns precipitation.
With this in mind, temperatures are expected to plunge next week, even further following the forecasted snow event. From Tuesday through Thursday, they are expected to drop significantly below seasonal averages. For this time of year, daytime highs average around 5 C with lows around freezing overnight. Next week, however, daily highs may not reach much above freezing, while overnight lows may dip down quite low.
As to how low those overnight lows may drop, Smith says some models show temperatures falling to -7 C or even lower but that it is too far out to have a great deal of confidence in that forecast.
"The main message that I can be confident in is to be prepared for winter weather," he underscored, adding that commuters should have snow tires on the road if they plan to drive in inclement weather.
The "big picture," is clear, however, temperatures are about to drop across Metro Vancouver and locals should prepare their homes, wardrobes, and commutes accordingly.
Metro Vancouver Weather Forecast
The Weather Network and Environment Canada call for below-average temperatures to kick off the winter season in Metro Vancouver following the snowiest November in over a decade.
Prior to the start of meteorological winter, there were a variety of temperatures throughout the fall, and taking an average temperature for the 90 days doesn't tell the complete story.
Instead, a closer look at the fall season in Vancouver shows that it was "volatile" and a "season of extremes," according to a new report.
For the upcoming week, The Weather Network is also calling for snow, with amounts of five cm or more on four days.
On Tuesday, when temperatures are expected to drop further, down to -7 C according to its forecast, the weather channel calls for up to 10 cm of accumulation.
