Vancouver’s snow-free run could end as late-winter warnings issued in southwest B.C.

VICTORIA — Snow is expected to make a late-winter visit to southwestern British Columbia, with Environment Canada issuing a snowfall warning for much of western and southern Vancouver Island.

The weather agency has also issued a special weather statement for Metro Vancouver, warning of possible snow disrupting the commute later in the week.

Vancouver has yet to record a measurable snowfall involving at least one centimetre of accumulation at the city’s airport this winter.

Environment Canada says up to five centimetres of accumulation is expected in Greater Victoria today, and snow is also forecast for Nanaimo, Duncan and Port Alberni.

The weather statement for Metro Vancouver warns of the potential for between two and five centimetres of snow, especially at higher elevations, for both Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

A snowfall warning of up to 20 centimetres is active on the Coquihalla Highway, where crashes on Sunday reduced the road to single-lane traffic in both directions and the RCMP recommended against its use.

The snowfall comes in light of a cool and unstable airmass passing over B.C., which also brought gusts reaching 98 kilometres an hour in Hope, 89 in Lytton and Smithers, and 81 kilometres in Kelowna and Dawson Creek.

Vancouver has been waiting for its first official snowfall, and if nothing arrives, it would be the first time the city had gone snow-free since the winter of 1982-83.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 9, 2026.

The Canadian Press