Summer snow hits the peak of B.C.'s Whistler

British Columbia has had a long, hot summer, but it slowed recently with rain and now this: snow fell Wednesday at the peak of Whistler Mountain.

The isolated flurries began Wednesday and are expected to continue tonight, but at higher elevations.

September snow is not unheard of at the Whistler peak, which is 2,180 metres above sea level, said Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald.

"But given that we're still in the summer, it's quite exceptional."

Mountain peaks in Banff, Alta., and Jasper also saw snow last week.

Summer not over yet

The abrupt weather change that brought a massive wind and rainstorm to the B.C. South Coast on Saturday is the result of a large, cold upper trough.

"The big ridge of high pressure that was dominating the weather pattern all summer long has shifted to the east," said MacDonald.

"Now, Eastern Canada is experiencing a well-deserved heat wave and we're stuck in this very cool upper trough of low pressure."

That will gradually change through the week.

"Fear not, summer will return for the long weekend [in B.C.]. We still have some nice weather ahead of us," said MacDonald.

That also means whatever trace snow falls today will disappear — but that didn't stop the September snow from causing a bit of excitement on social media.