Whistler, Pemberton, Sea-to-Sky Highway in BC to get ‘significant snowfall’

Whistler, BC, is expected to see the first “significant snowfall” of the season this weekend.

The company that owns Whistler-Blackcomb says it is kicking off the season by opening one of its ski slopes a day earlier than expected.

Vail Resorts says Blackcomb Mountain will be open for skiing starting next Thursday, and Whistler Mountain will open the following day.

The report for Whistler-Blackcomb on Friday said the area had seen 43 centimeters of snowfall over 48 hours and 95 centimeters in the past week.

The update came as Environment Canada issued a special weather statement for the Sea to Sky region, including Whistler, Squamish and Pemberton.

It says a weather system was expected to arrive Saturday, bringing rain to the coast and snow to inland areas, where a mix of snow and rain was also possible.

The bulletin says parts of the Sea to Sky region could see 10 to 15 centimeters of snow before it tapers off Saturday evening.

In Metro Vancouver, the weather office says Saturday will bring strong winds and heavy rain that could lead to power outages.

A special weather statement for the region says rainfall totals could range from 30 to 50 millimeters before tapering off overnight on Saturday.

In eastern B.C. Environment Canada on Friday issued snowfall warnings for parts of the Cariboo region as well as the Kinbasket, McGregor and North Columbia areas.

The bulletin says a storm system was expected to cross BC’s central interior Saturday with the heaviest snowfall in areas near the Alberta border and the Cariboo Mountains.

Areas farther west, along the Highway 97 corridor, will see lower levels of snow accumulation, the weather office says.