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Snow expected

Messy winter weather headed to the Fraser Valley this week

Jan 7, 2024 | 9:30 AM

CHILLIWACK — Snow is expected to greet Fraser Valley residents for their Monday morning commute. And it’s likely it won’t be the only snow they see this week.

A front filled with cold Artic air is pushing across British Columbia over the next day. When it collides with a moist pacific system, the result is expected to produce snow, rain and dropping temperatures. As the Artic front pushes further into the region later in the week, daytime high temperatures are expected to fall below the freezing mark.

Image: Forecast from Environment Canada / January 7, 2024

Environment Canada is predicting snow to fall again late in the week across the Fraser Valley with overnight lows well below the normal low of minus 1.

In a Special Weather Statement issued Sunday, Environment Canada said “Inland sections and higher terrain will be cold enough for snow on Monday. The snow will become more intense on Monday night and significant snow accumulations are expected.”

The City of Abbotsford is reminding property owners that clearing snow and ice from sidewalks and footpaths in front of their property is the owner’s responsibility. Its Good Neighbour policy calls for sidewalks to be cleared within 24 hours of the end of the snowfall. And it asks residents to avoid shovelling snow onto streets.

In Chilliwack, the City is asking its residents to help prevent localized flooding by removing snow from storm drains on their street. Snow and ice can quickly plug up a storm drain allowing water to back up on streets during the melt.