Snowfall warnings for parts of southern B.C., including Whistler, Sea to Sky regions

Warnings of heavy rain and snow have been issued for several regions across southern British Columbia, including Whistler and the Sea to Sky area, where up to 20 centimetres of snow could fall by Friday night.

Environment Canada says a Pacific frontal system is set to bring heavy rain to East Vancouver Island, between Qualicum Beach and Fanny Bay, with up to 50 millimetres of rainfall expected by Friday night. Heavy rain is also expected in the Howe Sound region just north of Vancouver as the system moves east.

North of Howe Sound, the forecaster says snowfall will begin in Whistler and the Sea to Sky region around noon Friday and continue into the night. Whistler is expected to receive 15 centimetres of snow.

Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor said the snow level will hover somewhere above 400 metres for the incoming storm.

"The low-elevation areas up to Squamish will likely see rainfall, but those areas, as you start moving in from Squamish toward Whistler, are going to see snowfall."

Further east, snowfall warnings have also been issued for the North Columbia and West Kootenay regions, including Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass, with 15-20 centimetres expected in those areas.

The Ministry of Transportation has issued travel advisories for Highway 3 between Grand Forks and Creston, as well as the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Hwy 99), due to the incoming snow. They say drivers should be prepared for low visibility and possible delays.

Most of the Lower Mainland is likely to see some rain from the weather system, Proctor said.

Environment Canada says localized flooding in low-lying areas is possible in regions affected by heavy rain, and that the rain is expected to ease Friday night.

Proctor added that much snow isn't expected on Metro Vancouver's North Shore mountains on Friday, but snow could start falling there Sunday night into Monday.

He said a "more widespread" snow event is expected across southern B.C. next week, when colder air starts filtering in from the Interior.

Proctor said the snow is the "start of some help" for ski resorts in B.C., including Whistler-Blackcomb, which have been struggling amid unseasonably dry and warm conditions in December.

"It's not a tremendously big event," he said of Friday's snowfall. "It's going to be fairly wet snow initially, so [it's] not going to be really dry and really prime skiing conditions, but it's going to help to alleviate some of the concerns that are out there."

Proctor said there was uncertainty of when exactly widespread snowfall could be seen next week, and whether areas closer to the coast will receive much of it.

He added that, given the unseasonably warm and dry weather, many British Columbians may not be prepared for snow to fall next week.

"It's really going to be incumbent upon people to look at their driving habits," he said. "Give yourself more time, take more time to get to where you need to be, and just exert as much caution as possible."