Be extra careful when driving or even walking outside in the next 24 hours.
Environment Canada says up to 30 cm of heavy snow and freezing rain could be possible for the Tri-Cities as the national service has upgraded its alert for the region to a winter storm warning.
As of 4:08 a.m. today (Jan. 5), meteorologists are predicting the snowfall to start this evening before easing off sometime tomorrow (Jan. 6).
"Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve," Environment Canada's warning reads, noting the minimum dump could be between 10 and 20 cm of snow.
"Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous."
City crews in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody have been out as early as 3:30 a.m. clearing priority routes from last night's (Jan. 4) snowfall.
Please visit our website for more winter safety information --> https://t.co/nGDedUD59D or report any areas of snow concern.
— City of Port Coquitlam (@CityofPoCo) January 5, 2022
B.C. officials are urging all commuters to slow down and drive to the conditions as visibility may be limited at unexpected moments.
"For those who must travel, enhanced winter maintenance services are in place where necessary and will remain for as long as needed through winter," explains Emergency Management BC (EMBC) in a statement.
"Warming centres may be opened to help protect vulnerable populations. [...] A little preparation can go a long way to keeping people safe during stormy, wintry conditions."
Afterwards, the snow is likely to turn into rain by the morning, along with easterly winds gusting up to 20 km/h.
In the days that follow, there's a greater chance of rain showers with some flurries — upwards of 60 per cent.
Temperatures will then begin to rise thanks to a milder air flow over B.C.'s south coast, rising to nearly 10 C by Tuesday (Jan. 11).
