A major winter storm with heavy snow, strong winds and possible freezing rain is expected to batter Metro Vancouver on Friday.
Environment Canada said the weather system will accompany a transition to mild and moist Pacific air as a southwesterly flow sets up.
The warmer air will see snow switch to rain at low elevations on the South Coast much earlier than inland areas such as the Fraser Valley and the sea-to-sky corridor.
The Fraser Valley has the greatest potential for a period of freezing rain on Friday.
The rapidly changing weather has municipal crews in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge keeping a close watch on the forecast.
Temperatures dropped to minus-7 degrees C in both municipalities on Wednesday, but the wind chill made the outdoors feel more in the range of minus 15 C. Crews were out overnight salting and sanding roads to make them safe for commuters.
An arctic outflow warning issued by Environment Canada overnight ended around 10 a.m. Wednesday.
• To monitor the latest forecasts and warnings from Environment Canada, visit weatheroffice.gc.ca.
