Snowfall warning in southeastern B.C. as weekend storm drenches south coast

Environment Canada is cautioning travellers in southeastern British Columbia as a winter storm brings up to 20 centimetres of snow to the Elk Valley region near the Alberta border. The agency says the heaviest bands are expected around Fernie, with conditions easing later this evening as the system moves east.

The advisory stretches across Alberta’s southern boundary with the United States and into parts of southern Saskatchewan. The weather office says the snowfall is tied to a low-pressure system tracking across the Prairies, creating challenging conditions on highways frequently used by travellers between B.C. and neighbouring provinces.

The shift to winter weather comes as communities on the south coast recover from a separate weekend storm. A Pacific frontal system brought significant rainfall to Metro Vancouver, Howe Sound and parts of Vancouver Island. Environment Canada recorded 66 millimetres in Squamish, 65 millimetres in Zeballos on northern Vancouver Island and 50 millimetres in Port Moody.

Local officials in B.C. have been urging drivers to prepare for rapidly changing conditions, especially on mountain passes that serve as key routes for travel and commercial transportation. The combination of coastal rain and interior snow is typical for late November, but forecasters say early-season storms often catch motorists off guard.