Thursday, March 28, 2024

Victoria is about to get 10 cm of snow AND 90 km/h wind gusts this evening

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Watch out for some seriously cold weather starting today, Victoria.

Up to 10 cm of snow is expected to fall over Vancouver Island, accompanied by 90 km/h wind gusts according to Environment Canada.

Weather alerts have been issued for Greater Victoria, East Vancouver Island, and Inland Vancouver Island, as well as a special notice for the Malahat highway, due to a convective system that is passing over the island.

Greater Victoria

Victorians can expect to see light snow in the morning before it intensifies in the afternoon. Elevation will play a large role in how much snow a region receives, but Environment Canada predicts that downtown Victoria near the water will see up to 5 cm of snow.

Meanwhile, a wind warning has also been issued for Greater Victoria, as the weather agency predicts wind gusts of up to 90 km/h this evening. The winds are expected to persist until Saturday.

Environment Canada is warning drivers that the high winds in combination with snow may significantly reduce visibility. The gusts may also cause damage to buildings, toss loose objects, and cause injury to the unwary.

“Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions due to high winds,” warns the weather agency.

East Vancouver Island

Snowfall of up to 10 cm is being predicted for East Vancouver Island. Heavy flurries may suddenly develop between Duncan and Nanaimo, dumping up to 5 cm of snow in a short amount of time.

Environment Canada warns that situations with rapidly accumulating snow like this could make travel difficult in some locations.

Inland Vancouver Island

Meanwhile, Inland Vancouver Island will see about 10 cm of snow accumulating throughout the day. Like Victoria, the snowfall is expected to increase further into the afternoon and evening.

The weather agency says that greater amounts of snowfall is more likely in elevated regions or areas that are not near the water, like the Malahat, Shawnigan Lake, and Cowichan Lake.

Drivers on the Malahat, particularly between Goldstream and Mill Bay, are being advised that weather in the mountains can change suddenly, resulting in dangerous driving conditions. Environment Canada recommends adjusting to winter driving behaviours and using winter tires or chains.

For weather updates stay tuned to Environment Canada. If you would like to report severe weather you can contact BCstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #BCStorm.

mm
Adam Chan
Former Staff Writer at Victoria Buzz.

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