By Canadian Press

Rain, snow, freezing rain set B.C. up for soggy, sloppy, slippery start to 2020

Jan 2, 2020 | 9:43 AM

VANCOUVER — Rain, snowfall and even freezing rain warnings cover many parts of British Columbia as the province prepares to welcome 2020 with some nasty weather.

Environment Canada is calling for as much as 60 millimetres of rain over the inner south coast, including Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, while up to 100 millimetres is forecast along the west coast of Vancouver Island and the mainland central coast.

The weather office says localized flooding in low-lying areas and washouts near rivers, creeks and culverts are possible.

Snowfall warnings are posted in many areas from the Fraser Canyon east to the Alberta boundary, with accumulations of 25 to 40 centimetres expected to blanket mountain passes before the system peters out Wednesday.

BC Hydro issued a statement Tuesday saying heavy snow in the southern Interior caused branches and trees to fall onto power lines, knocking out electricity for about 30,000 customers.

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It says the hardest hit areas were Clearwater, Quesnel and rural locations outside Kamloops, Vernon and Salmon Arm, and all active crews available were working on restoring the power.

Hydro warns that because of the extent of damage, customers in the hardest hit areas should prepare to be without power into New Year’s Day.

Environment Canada says travel is not recommended, especially over the Kootenay Pass, until conditions ease.

And in northeastern B.C., forecasters are calling for freezing rain through the day across the Fort Nelson region, potentially making travel treacherous.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 31, 2019.

The Canadian Press