A mild winter in B.C. may soon shift as colder air from the north approaches
Vancouver: So, what’s going on with winter on the West Coast? It’s been pretty mild in British Columbia’s South Coast lately, and January has been super dry. Can you believe Vancouver and Victoria have seen zero snow this winter?
But hold on, things might be changing soon. As we roll into February, there’s a chance for a shift in the weather pattern. That could mean some snow is finally on the way.
Now, why has it been so snowless? Well, there were a couple of days in mid-November with a bit of snow, but since then, nothing measurable has fallen. The weather has been swinging between extremes, with a strong Pacific jet stream bringing in warm air instead of the cold needed for snow.
Since Christmas, a series of ridges has taken over the West Coast, blocking storms and pushing the cooler air away. This has made January one of the driest on record for the South Coast.
Looking ahead, the ridge is expected to shift westward, which could let in some colder air from Siberia and Alaska. It’s still early to tell how cold it will get, but we might see temperatures drop 5-10 degrees below normal.
So, what does this mean for snow? While we can’t say for sure yet, this colder pattern could finally bring some snow to lower elevations as February rolls in. Fingers crossed!
Stay tuned to The Weather Network for all the latest updates on your forecast across British Columbia.
