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While the Lower Mainland saw snowfall last night, the Metro Vancouver weather forecast calls for clear skies on Wednesday, February 20.
Since the skies will be clear tonight, however, conditions will allow for some frigid temperatures. In fact, Environment Canada calls for temperatures to fall as low as minus one tonight - but with a wind chill factor of minus six.
Thursday, February 21 is expected to start out sunny and clear, but the forecast calls for a 60 per cent chance of rain or snow in the evening. What's more, the forecast calls for periods of rain or snow throughout the day on Friday, February 22 as well as Saturday, February 23.
Vancouver Is Awesome spoke to Matt MacDonald, Meteorologist, Environment Canada, who explained what is predicted to happen with this system.
"Before there is snowfall we expect to see some rain," he described. "But as the precipitation intensity picks up it will turn into snowfall. This thermodynamic process is known as diabatic cooling - it takes place when precipitation steals warmth from the atmosphere. As the rainfall begins to intensify it cools the atmosphere, which turns it into snowfall."
MacDonald noted that the latest snowfall in Vancouver had a predicted precipitation value of 5 - 10 mm, whereas this one has 10 - 20 mm. Further, he notes that this amount of rainfall could produce up to 10 cm of snowfall in higher elevations, the Fraser Valley, and the North Shore. With that in mind, he adds that these values can change, and therefore residents should monitor the forecast for the latest updates.
In contrast, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday are expected to be dry and mostly sunny.
Metro Vancouver Weather Forecast
Environment Canada
Metro Vancouver has seen some unusually cold temperatures this February. According to Environment Canada’s weather data for the month, the average temperature is a low of one degree. The region has seen temperatures as low as minus nine this month, with a wind chill of minus fourteen.
What’s more, the area has received over triple one month’s snowfall in the first two weeks. The average amount of snowfall for February is 6.3 cm; Metro Vancouver received 22 cm and counting in that time period and counting.
