B.C. forecast favours skiers as unsettled pattern brings alpine snow, rain
Over the next week, several low-pressure systems will track moisture onto the B.C. coast and inland, bringing more rain for the lower elevations and additional snow for the alpine regions
An unsettled weekend is expected for most of southern B.C., with periods of rain for lower elevations and snow for the alpine regions of the Coast Mountains and the Rockies and Kootenays.
DON'T MISS: The 2025-26 ski season is almost here! When will Canada's resorts open?
Impressive rainfall rates up to 5 mm an hour are expected through Saturday across the South Coast, as a narrow, but intense stream of moisture comes ashore.
Fresh snow will excite skiers as the wintry weather persists throughout the end of this week and beyond.
As ski season kicks off, drivers are also advised to use caution as some Interior highway passes may become snow-covered. As well, expect ponding and pooling on Lower Mainland roads from the heavy rainfall.
Weekend looking snowy, rainy for the coast
Snow will spread into the Columbias and Rockies, lasting through the weekend.
The most organized system is forecast from Saturday to Sunday morning along the coast, with heavy rainfall rates of 1-3 mm an hour across Metro Vancouver, with up to 5 mm an hour for Tofino.
Saturday overnight presents the heaviest rainfall across Vancouver, with up to 5 mm an hour, particularly across northeastern sections of the Lower Mainland.
Rainfall forecast
Coquitlam: 50-75+ mm
Maple Ridge: 50-75+ mm
North Vancouver: 50-75 mm
Tofino: 50-75 mm
West Vancouver: About 50 mm
Abbotsford: About 50 mm
Chilliwack: About 50 mm
Downtown Vancouver: 30-50 mm
Southwestern Lower Mainland: 20-40 mm
Eastern Vancouver Island: 10-20 mm
Victoria: Less than 10 mm
Pooling and ponding on roadways across the Lower Mainland as rainfall rates intensify through Saturday evening and overnight.
Freezing levels will also drop throughout the day Sunday, impacting the Coquihalla and Allison passes for the second half of it. We could see 10 cm of snowfall in those regions.
By the overnight, freezing levels are forecast to sit at about 700 metres.
The high-elevation routes with the greatest snowfall accumulation potential include the Trans-Canada Highway (Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass), and Highway 3 (Paulson Summit to Kootnenay Pass), where as much as 20 cm of snowfall is forecast through Sunday.
The freezing levels will then remain below the mountain passes into the midweek. Another round of moisture returns by Wednesday, but at a chilly cost as it is driven by a surge of Arctic air seeping over the provinces, sending temperatures to well below seasonal across B.C.
Despite the active weather pattern, precipitation at Vancouver International Airport remains well below monthly averages. As of Nov. 22, only 76.6 mm of rain has been reported, far short of the November average of 171.2 mm and 3.2 cm of snowfall.
November is typically the wettest month for Vancouver. Snowfall at the airport remains at 0 cm, compared to the average of 3.2 cm (1991–2020).
RELATED: As ski season nears, a B.C. resort is making snow in 20-degree weather
Rainy and snowy conditions are expected to persist as November concludes. Colder temperatures will allow for more snow for the alpine regions, however, many ski resorts may still need to capitalize on the colder conditions for snowmaking to prepare for openings.
WATCH: Snow in 20-degree weather? This ski hill is the first in Canada to do it
Thumbnail courtesy of DriveBC (https://drivebc.ca/).
Be sure to check back for the latest weather updates across B.C.