Metro Vancouver could see another dose of winter weather due to a "fresh infusion of arctic air" descending on the province, Environment Canada says.

In a special weather statement issued for cities including Vancouver, the weather agency said the arctic air mass will mix with increasing moisture in the area to bring snow to most of the South Coast.

Wind warnings have also been issued for much of the region, with gusts of up to 90 km/h possible in some areas.

The statement published early Wednesday morning and renewed Thursday did not provide an exact estimate of the snowfall, but said most areas that fall under the advisory will see about two to four centimetres of accumulation on Friday.

Envrionment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald says although a heavy snowfall is not in the forecast - just a few centimetres - the arctic air could pick up speed quickly and cause visibility problems for commuters beginning their weekends.

"We're going to see some strong winds develop Friday afternoon and start to blow that snow around, particularly in the Fraser Valley," MacDonald told CTV News.

"We could see winds in excess of 70 km/h."

East and Inland Vancouver Island, the Victoria area and the Fraser Valley are expected to see the most snow and strongest winds, but the statement also applies to:

  • Vancouver;
  • Burnaby;
  • New Westminster;
  • the northeast of Metro Vancouver, including Coquitlam and Maple Ridge;
  • the southeast, including Surrey and Langley;
  • the southwest, including Richmond and Delta;
  • the North Shore, including West Vancouver and North Vancouver.

Initially the snow was expected to start Thursday, but forecasters now expect it to begin Friday in most areas.

The cold air however, is here to stay.

"Friday night into Saturday morning it's going to be cold - we're talking wind chill values in the minus 10 to minus 15 range, right through Saturday afternoon" said MacDonald.

"Temperatures are going to be well-below normal right through the end of next week, and maybe more arctic air for next weekend."

The arctic outflow, which is responsible for colder-than-usual temperatures in the area, will be strongest in the areas of Howe Sound, Whistler, the Fraser Valley, Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands. Those areas are forecast to experience "bitterly cold wind chill temperatures," and drivers may experience reduced visibility due to blowing snow.

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