Finally some good news for West Coast snow lovers
A more favourable pattern for snow is finally moving over the West Coast
It’s been a slow winter for snow lovers from British Columbia to California as warmer-than-normal temperatures have kept our typical wintry weather at bay.
The pattern change sweeping over the region will bring cooler temperatures and ample opportunities for snow to higher elevations up and down the coast.
RELATED: Eight skiers confirmed dead in California avalanche, ninth presumed dead
Strong ridges of high pressure are draped over the central Pacific, the territories up north, and the U.S. Rockies, essentially trapping a centre of low pressure off the B.C. coastline for the foreseeable future.
Waves of moisture started pushing into California on Feb. 17, resulting in ski resorts and highways closing after some areas saw 1.2 metres (4 feet) of snow in 48 hours.
The influx of snow led to a major avalanche near Lake Tahoe, California, killing at least eight people. This was reportedly the state’s deadliest avalanche in modern history.
Moisture will reach southern B.C. this weekend, resulting in major snowfall for higher elevations on Vancouver Island. The mainland looks to take more of a direct hit on Sunday.
Mt. Washington could be in line for more than 75 cm of accumulation, while Whistler is on track for half a metre of snowfall. The North Shore Mountains could see more than 30 cm of snow from this event.
Snowfall totals are even more impressive south of the border. Beginning with the first round of snow earlier this week, California’s Sierra Nevada could wind up with more than 3 metres (10 feet) of snow over the course of 10 days.
While that much snow is too much of a good thing for skiers, it’s welcome news for a region that relies heavily on winter snowpack to replenish its reservoirs for the summer dry season.
Header image created using satellite imagery from Copernicus/ESA.