Update, 10:30 p.m. Friday
Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for Vancouver Island and Greater Victoria on Friday, saying the chance of snow — and a white Christmas — is increasing.
Snow is expected to develop across Vancouver Island during the day on Sunday and spread to the mainland coast late in the afternoon, the statement says. Arctic outflow conditions could combine with this system and produce heavier areas of snow along eastern Vancouver Island.
The amount of snow that might fall is uncertain, Environment Canada said, but "but appreciable accumulations up to 5 cm are possible."
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• Drive B.C. road conditions on Vancouver Island
Did someone say #SNOW again? Yup, this may very well be a "Perfect #WhiteChristmas" for the South Coast of BC which we define as at least 2cm on the ground & snowing on Dec 25. See details here: https://t.co/fDPbFSnfNa #BCstorm pic.twitter.com/6bbjCkhy13
— ECCC Weather BC (@ECCCWeatherBC) December 22, 2017
Head's up: It's going to get COLD and STAY COLD, for some time... #Brrrr #BCstorm pic.twitter.com/m3ddlh3sIw
— ECCC Weather BC (@ECCCWeatherBC) December 21, 2017
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Original story
It looks like Victoria’s chances for a white Christmas are on the rise.
A typical year’s climatological statistics have Victoria and Vancouver both rated at a 15 per cent chance of having snow on Christmas Day, with a measurable snowfall deemed to be more than one centimetre.
But after a round of snow this week, more cold air is on the way, said Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist. Flurries are in the forecast for much of the Island, from Victoria to Campbell River.
“Over the next while, we’re getting colder air as Arctic air tries to settle over B.C. and filter out to the coast,” Lundquist said.
And that could translate into more snow for the Victoria area. Snow — especially snow that sticks around — is much more likely in certain parts of the region, like the Saanich Peninsula and the West Shore.
“It does mean you’re going to cool off and that’s going to give you a slight hope for Christmas,” Lundquist said.
“We’re forecasting 60 per cent chance of flurries on Christmas Eve and 60 per cent chance of flurries or showers on Christmas Day.
“If it comes at the right time, you might have a bit of whiteness for Christmas morning.”
Even trace amounts of snow should have an effect, he said.
“Kids will probably be excited if they see flakes out the window.”
Stories continue to emerge from Tuesday’s snowfall, including the tale of a motorist who knew enough to stay in his car when power lines came down on it.
Saanich Fire Department Capt. David Elder said the lines fell when the driver went off a snowy road in the Prospect Lake area and hit a power pole.
“He did the right thing, he called 911 from the car,” Elder said. “We made contact with him and assured him he was safe.”
B.C. Hydro arrived to deal with the wires.
The driver, who was uninjured, had to spend about 30 minutes inside his vehicle.
A snow-laden tree at Yellow Point Lodge toppled over and severely damaged Maria Lironi’s small car.
“It was heavy, wet snow,” she said. “Five minutes beforehand, I’d have been standing underneath that tree.
“The tree has crushed the front end and it’s gone through the grille and the windshield and dashboard.”
Power outages caused by the snow peaked at about 54,000 on Tuesday, but were down to about 4,000 by Wednesday afternoon.
Nanaimo, the Cowichan Valley and the Gulf Islands were hit hardest, said B.C. Hydro spokesman Ted Olynyk.
