VANCOUVER — Residents of Vancouver and parts of Vancouver Island are bracing for another wintry blast with Environment Canada calling for snow accumulations of between five and 15 centimetres.
Snowfall warnings have been issued for parts of eastern Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.
The weather office predicts North and West Vancouver as well as Metro Vancouver's northeastern municipalities could receive the heaviest dumps before the system moves through later on Friday.
Avalanche Canada is maintaining a special avalanche advisory for mountains across the south coast and Vancouver Island, rating the risk as high.
It is really snowing heavily in Coquitlam. This is near Mundy Park. @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/HP6b9HoL7r
— Sheila Scott (@Sheila_Scott) February 22, 2019
Avalanche Canada's website says Friday's short, intense storm could drop up to 30 centimetres of snow in the backcountry, and it won't bond well to lower levels of the snowpack.
Forecasters warn that persistent slab avalanches are likely.
A backcountry advisory issued by the Whistler Blackcomb resort blames a slab of snow carved away by wind for an avalanche that killed a snowboarder from Australia Thursday.
The snowfall warning was in place for a reason I suppose. It snowed all the way from downtown to North Van on my drive here this morning. I’ll be live with @Keri_Adams and @ctv_jasonpires this morning on @CTVMorningLive with details on this latest storm. pic.twitter.com/8EWt6G0ZZK
— Sheila Scott (@Sheila_Scott) February 22, 2019
The resort says the 42-year-old woman from New South Wales and a 36-year-old man were boarding in a restricted area on a steep, rocky, south-facing slope when they triggered a fairly small slide that killed the woman.
RCMP and the coroner are investigating the death.
On Monday, a 39-year-old Surrey man died when he was hit by an avalanche while snowshoeing just north of Mount Seymour on Vancouver's North Shore.
#DNVsnow crew reports that all trucks have been called in to help throughout the snow this morning. Snow is expected to taper off around noon. Please drive carefully, and help us keep neighbourhoods safe by clearing the sidewalk in front of your home. #NorthVan pic.twitter.com/yllCrM0m1Z
— North Van District (@NVanDistrict) February 22, 2019
Shovels are out on Cottonwood Avenue pic.twitter.com/tt45B9vbOV
— Sheila Scott (@Sheila_Scott) February 22, 2019
Amazing what a little elevation will do. Welcome to Como Lake Park in Coquitlam! @CTVVancouver pic.twitter.com/eplfmvJXJI
— Sheila Scott (@Sheila_Scott) February 22, 2019