A strong area of low pressure sweeping southwards along Vancouver Island today is bringing snow to much of the south coast. In the Fraser Valley the snow is combining with gusty northeast winds to create blizzard conditions. Further snowfall accumulations of up 15 cm are forecast today for East Vancouver Island with lesser additional amounts near 5 cm forecast for metro Vancouver..The Fraser Valley..Greater Victoria..the Gulf Islands and Sunshine Coast. Snow is expected to taper to flurries late this afternoon or early this evening.

Wind chill values below minus 20 over the north and central coasts will spread southward to Fraser Valley..Whistler and Howe Sound as cold air over the interior rushes into the coastal valleys and inlets.

Total snowfall accumulations at select coastal sites up until 1 PM Wednesday December 17, 2008.

Campbell River airport 16 cm Comox airport 16 cm Powell River airport 10 cm Vancouver international airport 5 cm abbottsfor airport 4 cm.