The Metro Vancouver weather forecast doesn't include any more snowfall over the next couple of days but strong winds will keep conditions dangerously cold.
An arctic outflow warning was issued for the region on Wednesday night (Jan. 10), as winds gusting up to 60 km/h were expected to make subzero temperatures feel as cold as -20 C.
Snow also started falling across the region late Thursday afternoon resulting in widespread chaos on highways and city roads.
Environment Canada meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau told V.I.A. that amounts of snow varied across the region, but many places at sea level likely received as much as 2 cm.
Over the next couple of days, locals should dress warmly and limit their time outdoors. Frostbite can occur within minutes on exposed skin.
"The main story going forward for today and tomorrow is going to be the cold," she said. "So, there are still some icy patches, but it is going to be quite cold."
Metro Vancouver weather forecast includes subzero daytime highs
While temperatures will be frigid, the wind chill will make them feel significantly colder. Winds are expected to gust up to 40 km/h across Metro Vancouver but up to 60 to 70 km/h in the Fraser Valley.
Even without the windchill, temperatures are significantly below the seasonal average. V.I.A.'s Downtown Centre Weatherhood station shows a bone-chilling high of -7 C and a low of -11 C for Friday.
Wind chill values are expected to die down a bit by Saturday afternoon but may dip near minus 10 to minus 20 through Sunday morning.
While the advisory will likely be lifted ahead of next week, cold Arctic air will linger in the region for a few days. At the same time, storm systems are expected to bring warm air and moisture on Tuesday or Wednesday but the timing is uncertain, explains Charbonneau.
There is a threat of freezing rain during this precipitation event, too.
