PHOTOS: Terrace, Thornhill and Kitimat experience first snowfall of the season

Local residents share stunning winter wonderland photos with The Skeena Reporter

A serene look at the Old Skeena Bridge, connecting Terrace and Thornhill, where rocks are coated in snow on Dec. 2, 2023. (Callie-Mae Carriere/Lens of Love Terrace for The Skeena Reporter)

Residents of Terrace, Thornhill, and Kitimat woke up to a winter wonderland Saturday morning, following an unexpected snowfall warning issued by Environment Canada early in the day. The Skeena Reporter, having first reported the news just before 2:30 a.m., indicated that snowfall amounts could reach up to 20 centimetres in these areas.

As temperatures teetered around zero degrees Celsius, the precipitation initially fell as rain before transitioning to snow in the early hours of Saturday. This weather pattern led to snowfall beginning just after midnight, followed by rain again in the early morning.

In Terrace, only a few centimetres of snow were recorded, similar to what was observed in much of Lower Thornhill. However, higher elevations experienced greater snowfall. Highway 37, the route connecting Terrace, Thornhill and Kitimat, saw some of the heaviest accumulations, as well as areas east of Thornhill, according to snowfall reports and photographs shared with The Skeena Reporter.

Adding to the excitement of the first snowfall, The Skeena Reporter launched a contest inviting residents of Terrace, Thornhill, and Kitimat to share their winter wonderland photos on various Facebook Groups. The initiative was met with an enthusiastic response, as community members eagerly captured the beauty of the season's first snow. Here are some of the best photos we received, each telling its own unique story of this early winter surprise.

A serene view of Jackpine Flats, south of Thornhill, showcases trees elegantly draped in snow on Dec. 2, 2023. (Kaitlin Carriere/Facebook)

Majestic snow-covered trees in Gossen, located east of Kitselas, create a picturesque winter scene on Dec. 2, 2023. (Jennifer Keys/Facebook)

A quaint home in Gossen, east of Kitselas, stands out amidst a landscape of snow-laden trees, captured on Dec. 2, 2023. (Jennifer Keys/Facebook)

In a striking image, a child is seen standing atop a building in Usk, just outside Kitselas, on Dec. 2, 2023. (Bea Richard/Facebook)

A snapshot from Kitimat depicts a 6.5-foot shed hidden under a thick blanket of snow, taken on Dec. 2, 2023. (Birgit Manninen/Facebook)

A striking scene in Gossen, east of Kitselas, where heavy snow blankets both a building and the ground, transforming the landscape into a serene winter tableau on Dec. 2, 2023. (Josephine Summerfelt/Facebook)

The serene beauty of Old Remo, located just south of Terrace, is elegantly captured as snow gently blankets the trees, creating a tranquil winter scene on Dec. 2, 2023. (Nicole Lisson/Facebook)

As the sun rises over Thornhill on Dec. 2, 2023, it unveils a breathtaking winter wonderland, with the early light casting a warm glow over the freshly fallen snow. (Austin Bowen/Facebook)

Note: In an exciting collaboration, The Skeena Reporter has partnered with Lens of Love Terrace, a local photography business spearheaded by the talented Callie-Mae Carriere. She is a stay-at-home mom with a remarkable flair for photography and her work is featured as our featured image at the beginning of the article.