VANCOUVER – Will it be a white Christmas for B.C. this year?
For most of the province, don’t expect a winter wonderland. Christmas Day will be mostly dry across B.C., although definitely green in the Lower Mainland.
After a soaking wet Tuesday, a few showers will linger in the South Coast on Wednesday, but high pressure will build for Christmas, leading to some good weather for those needing to get around on Christmas Day.
The last white Christmas in Vancouver was in 2008, which was also the Christmas with the most snow on the ground on the morning of the 25: 41 cm officially at the airport. Only about one in 10 Christmases have had snow on the ground in the Vancouver area. The warmest Dec. 25 on record was in 2005 when it hit 14 degrees and the coldest was 1964 with a morning low of -12.
The snowiest, as far as accumulation during Christmas Day, was in 1971, when 17.5 cm. fell.
Mountain passes
Getting around B.C. in the days leading up to Christmas and on Christmas Day may be a little tricky however. On Sunday, Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, and Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton via the Allison Pass.
There are no warnings still in effect at this time, but drivers are urged to allow for extra time and to make sure they are ready with the proper tires and some supplies in their car in case of emergency.
Bella Coola
There is a chance of a few snow showers with some sun. Highs to -2 expected.
Burns Lake
Afternoon snow showers are expected with a high to -5. It could get as low as -11 in the evening.
Campbell River
No snow here! Residents can expect rain in the afternoon, with a high of 6 degrees.
Castlegar
A mix of sun and clouds for this region. Expect highs of about 0 degrees.
Chetwynd
Expect some snow in this region! Snow showers expected in the morning with a high to -16. It could get as cold as -23.
Clinton
No snow, but sun and cloud with a high of -3.
Comox
Clouds with a high of one degree.
Cranbrook
No snow, but sun and cloud with a high of 0. It could get as cold as -17 however.
Dease Lake
Some snow expected to fall on Tuesday, but Christmas Day will see sun and cloud with a high of -17.
Fort Nelson
Clouds and sun with a high of -22.
Fort St. John
Some snow expected in the morning, with a high of -16 degrees.
Kamloops
Sun and clouds with a high between -1 and 1 degree.
Kelowna
Sun and clouds with a high of -1.
Lillooet and Lytton
Sun and clouds with a high of 2 degrees.
Mackenzie
Some snow showers on Wednesday, but clouds and sun Christmas Day, with a high of -5.
Malahat
Mix of sun and cloud with a high of 4 degrees.
Nakusp
Sun and clouds with a high of 0 degrees and low of -13.
Nelson
Sun and cloud with a high of -1.
Penticton
More sun than cloud, with a high of 0 degrees.
Port Hardy
Showers in the afternoon with a high of 7 degrees and a low of 2.
Prince George
Sun and cloud with a high of -2.
Prince Rupert
Expect light rain with a high between 4 and 6 degrees.
Princeton
Sun and cloud, with a high of about 0 and a low of -11 degrees.
Quesnel
Sun and cloud, with a high of -2.
Revelstoke
Snow showers in the morning, with a high of 0 degrees.
Saanich
Sun and cloud, with a high of 8 degrees
Salmon Arm
Sun and cloud, with a high of 0 degrees and a low of -10.
Smithers
Snow showers developing in the afternoon, high of -2 degrees.
Sparwood
Morning snow showers, with a high of -1.
Squamish
Sun and cloud with a high of 4 degrees, low of -5.
Summerland
Sun and cloud, with a high of 1 degree.
Terrace
Snow! With a high of 0 and a low of -3 degrees.
Tofino
Afternoon showers, with a high of 4 degrees.
Victoria
Sun and cloud, with a high of 8 degrees.
Vernon
Lots of sun, with a high of 0.
Whistler
Sun and cloud, with a high of 1 degree.
Williams Lake
Cloudy with some sun and a high of -2 degrees.
As always, the forecast may change, so keep an eye on our SkyTracker weather page. For more weather-related stories, visit our weather tag page.
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