Get ready Prince George, we’re in for a blast of winter.
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the city beginning on Saturday with five-to-10 centimetres of snow expected.
A series of moist low-pressure systems are moving up from the southwest and they will collide with cold air masses coming down from the north. The first system will bring heavy snow tonight to Mackenzie and McLeod Lake, which will receive between 10 and 20 cm of snow by the end of the day Saturday. As the low moves towards Alberta the trailing cold front will bring heavy snowfall to communities along Highway 16.
The areas under the snowfall warning include Prince George, Mackenzie, McLeod Lake, Fort Fraser, Granisle, Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and the Bulkley Valley and Lakes District.
The warning is in effect until Sunday for Mackenzie and McLeod Lake and will be in effect from Saturday to Sunday for the Bulkley Valley and Stuart-Nechako areas. The heavy snow is expected to stop sometime Saturday for Prince George.
Rain is predicted for the city starting at 4 a.m. Saturday, changing to heavy snow at about 8 a.m. A high of 0 C is predicted for Saturday but winds out of the north will bring windchill factor down to minus-8 C. The front is expected to bring between five and 10 cm of snow to Prince George on Saturday.
Rain is predicted for Sunday, with a high of 4 C.
Travel is not advised, and motorists are being warned to take precautions and expect rapidly-changing conditions and reduced visibility at times in heavy snow.
Check the Environment Canada website www.weather.gc.ca for more updates.