Dry with some sunshine along the BC coast today as a ridge over the interior exerts its strength westward.

An approaching system in combination with the interior ridge will bring strong to extreme outflow winds through the mountain valleys and inlets, especially over north coastal ranges.

As the frontal system approaches, the southerly winds along exposed coastal sections will become severe southerly.

No precipitation expected today along coastal ranges.

With the strong ridge of high pressure set up over the interior, expect fairly extensive low cloud to start today in most valleys.

As the day progresses, valley cloud will break up and sunny breaks will materialize at valley bottoms.

Forecast for Tonight - 4 p.m to 4 a.m PST:

The Pacific frontal system impacts the north coast ranges overnight tonight. 

Extreme southerly winds persist at mountain top tonight. 

Freezing levels are very elevated initially at 2000 to 2500 metres. 

Ridge keeping hold over south coast ranges tonight. Mainly clear for much of the night over south.

Mountain top winds over northwest inland ranges picks up to strong to severe southerly as Pacific system approaches from west.

Snow giving accumulations of 10 cm at the White Pass.

Forecast for Tuesday - 4 a.m to 4 p.m PST:

The frontal system continues to impact the coastal ranges and pushes down into the north Vancouver Island range.

Snow continues to be moderate to heavy from Vancouver Island north up past Stewart.

Freezing levels remain elevated over the south at 2000 to 2500 metres, but have significantly fallen over northern coastal ranges to be between 1000 to 1500 metres.

Mountain top winds are strong southerly over Vancouver Island.

Some light snow over northwest inland ranges and creeping into North Rockies as the frontal system pushes a little inland.

From Cariboo south to the USA border the ridge of high pressure persists and keeps conditions mostly dry.

Snow giving accumulations of 10 to 15 cm at the White Pass.

Wednesday we are between systems and so the entire province is under mainly dry and sunny conditions. Mountain top winds are light and variable.

Wednesday evening and overnight another robust frontal system hits coastal BC ranges, especially across the north. This will bring moderate to heavy snow to northwest ranges, however, freezing levels are expected to spike to 2500 metres.

Light to moderate precipitation from this system pushes into North Rockies and Cariboo ranges Wednesday night. Freezing levels over central and northern interior are close to valley bottoms to start.

By Thursday this frontal system begins to break down, but widespread light snow throughout province. Interior freezing levels spike to 2000 metres, while freezing levels begin to drop to around 1500 metres late Thursday along the coastal BC ranges.

A few flurries on Wednesday changing to periods of snow on Thursday.

Ridgetop winds moderate to strong southerly.

Temperatures -5C on Wednesday rising to 0C on Thursday.

A Short Break

Dave Wray

Drying trend today for the BC ranges. Merely isolated flurries this morning interior.

Potential heavy snow for Yukon passes overnight. Still some model uncertainty.

Ridge of high pressure building into BC through today.

Low pressure begins to push into coastal BC ranges on Tuesday.