Environment Canada issues winter storm warning for Terrace, Thornhill, Kitimat
Environment Canada is forecasting up to 30 centimetres in Terrace, Thornhill, and 40 centimetres in Kitimat due to a strong low pressure system
Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning for Terrace, Thornhill, and Kitimat on Wednesday morning, forecasting snowfall beginning today and intensifying through Thursday morning and into Friday afternoon due to a strong low pressure system approaching British Columbia’s North Coast.
Residents of Terrace and Thornhill are warned to expect between 20 and 30 centimetres of snow, while Kitimat could see between 25 and 40 centimetres. Environment Canada’s advisory details that periods of snow will start today, with snowfall intensifying late Thursday morning when a warm front collides with the coastline. "The heaviest snowfall is expected Thursday night through Friday morning, with accumulations of 20 to 30 cm for Terrace and Stewart, and up to 40 cm for Kitimat. Snowfall will taper off to a few flurries or mixed precipitation by Friday afternoon," the advisory states.
The weather authority also highlighted potential challenges due to temperatures hovering around the freezing mark, suggesting that "snowfall accumulation may be highly variable and dependent on precipitation rate and temperature."
READ MORE: PHOTOS: Terrace, Thornhill and Kitimat experience first snowfall of the season
Environment Canada advises the public to "consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve" and urges caution for those who need to walk or drive in the affected areas.
The latest weather forecast for Terrace, issued at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, anticipates near-freezing temperatures during the storm, with today's high reaching -4 degrees Celsius under cloudy skies and a few flurries beginning late afternoon. Tonight, the temperature is expected to remain at -4 degrees Celsius with an additional two to four centimetres of snow and winds reaching up to 15 kilometres per hour, creating a wind chill near -6 degrees Celsius.
Thursday is expected to bring a high of zero degrees Celsius, with snowfall anticipated to be at least five centimetres, increasing significantly into the evening. The weather agency expects the heaviest snowfall from the storm to occur during this period. By Friday, the temperature is forecast to rise slightly to one degree Celsius, but snowy conditions are expected to continue, with an evening low of zero degrees Celsius.
Environment Canada issues winter storm warnings when more than 25 centimetres of snow falls in a 24 hours period, or more than 20 centimetres of snow — combined with freezing rain, strong winds, blowing snow and/or extreme cold — occurs over a 24 hour period.