More snow forecast for Vancouver Island as cold air settles over B.C.

More snowfall is in the forecast for parts of British Columbia's South Coast after heavy snow battered the region earlier in the week.

Environment Canada says a low-pressure system is creating "bands of flurries" over Vancouver Island, with more than five centimetres possible in some areas over the weekend. 

The weather agency is warning travellers to allow for extra time in their planning as driving conditions may change rapidly.

WATCH | Why it's so hard to forecast snow in the Pacific Northwest: 

Why it’s hard to predict when it will snow in coastal B.C.

8 days ago

Duration 2:05

When temperatures drop in the Lower Mainland, there’s a chance that winter rain will turn to snow. But forecasting when it will be wet and warm or cold and dry can be challenging. CBC's Johanna Wagstaffe explains why it's so hard to predict where and when the white stuff will fall.

Alyssa Charbonneau, an Environment Canada meteorologist, told CBC News on Friday that all of the province would be seeing temperatures below seasonal averages this weekend.

Charbonneau said Arctic air that settled over the province last weekend has remained in place, and there aren't any frontal systems coming from the Pacific Ocean to displace it.

"Our long-range forecasts do hint that perhaps you know, in ... latter part of February, we flip back to near seasonal or above seasonal, but again, still a lot of uncertainty in the long range," she said.

Environment Canada is also warning of Arctic outflow in parts of B.C.'s North Coast, including Terrace and Kitimat, where cold temperatures and strong winds will cause wind chill to make it feel like –20 C overnight and in the mornings.

Residents in the region are told to limit outdoor activity and shelter pets and animals that are typically outdoors.

The recent frigid weather that brought heavy snow to B.C. and shuttered some schools led to daily low temperature records being broken Friday in communities such as Abbotsford — where temperatures dipped to –11 C, three degrees lower than the previous record set in 1989.

Communities such as Hope, Sechelt and Gibsons also saw their daily low records fall, with Hope's –8.6 C breaching a mark set in 1948.

Avalanche risk heightened on Vancouver Island

The heavy snowfall has also changed conditions in Vancouver Island's backcountry, with Avalanche Canada warning of some risks in its alpine region.

Avalanche forecaster Martina Halik says layers of snow formed during January's dry spell are not bonding well with the recent snowfall, making slopes more susceptible to human-triggered slides.

"Throughout last weekend … there have been lots of reports of avalanches occurring for the Vancouver Island area," Halik told CBC News. "Whenever we get a big storm like we did last weekend, it causes a jump in avalanche danger."

As of the latest forecast, the Island's mountain ranges are rated at "moderate" risk, meaning heightened avalanche conditions exist on specific terrain features. Halik advises riders to check Avalanche Canada bulletins before heading out, as conditions are updated daily at 4 p.m. PT.

She also recommends sticking to sheltered areas where snow has been less affected by wind.