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Some Bing Crosby fans, and those who love the snow, may be in for a treat this week as snow is in the forecast for several days beginning on Dec. 24. The City of Richmond has a centralized control centre to respond 24/7 when required.

Photo courtesy City of Richmond

White Christmas in store for Richmond

By Don Fennell

Published 12:25 PST, Thu December 23, 2021

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For those dreaming of a white Christmas, it seems you’re going to get your wish.

While rain and showers are in the forecast for the next couple of days, by Christmas Eve the rain could well be turning to snow as the mercury continues to drop. Overall, the winter is projected to be colder than average for the second straight year.

The latest Environment Canada forecast is for periods of rain or snow on Dec. 24 with a daytime high of just 3 degrees Celsius and an overnight low of -1. On Christmas Day, there’s nothing but snow in the forecast with a daytime high of -1 and a low of -6 heading into Boxing Day when the mercury isn’t expected to rise above -3. More snow is in the forecast for Dec. 26 when the overnight temperature is expected to drop all the way down to -10.

The forecast for Dec 27 includes a 60 per cent chance of flurries and a daytime high of -5, with a similar expectation for Dec. 28. The snow is expected to let up on Dec. 29 making way for a mix of sun and cloud and a high of -3.

Last year, 13 centimetres of snow accumulated at Vancouver International Airport.

The average high for this time of the year is just under 6 degrees and the average low just above freezing. The highest temperature on record (since 1937) is the summer-like 13.5 we experienced in 2005. The lowest is -11.5 set in 1983.

We have to go back 53 years for our greatest snowfall ever—25.7 centimetres.

The City of Richmond has a centralized control centre of experienced staff to respond to the snow, ice, or severe weather 24/7 when required.

“City staff frequently monitor weather reports and updates, as well as information from road temperature sensors to dispatch equipment and crews in advance of and during weather events,” explains city spokesperson Clay Adams.

He says Richmond’s snow response plan includes the use of over 40 specialized pieces of equipment and vehicles. The city works yard has 1,000 tonnes of salt onsite, with an additional 2,200 tonnes on reserve. A secondary location is also used for salt storage to help reduce travel times and increase efficiencies for snow removal on the city’s east side.

“The city’s priority during a snowfall is to pre-treat and clear all major arterial roads so emergency vehicles such as police, ambulance and fire trucks—as well as public transit and private vehicles—can travel safely through Richmond’s priority routes,” Adams says.

Finally, first and second priority routes are pre-established and the first to be cleared, he adds. Third priority routes consist of designated collector roads, and roads of local significance. These are salted and cleared once those first and second priority routes are completed.

To view existing priority snow routes, go to www.richmond.ca/services/rdws/weather/route-map.htm. Detailed information on the city’s snow response, and more tips on how to prepare for snow and cold weather, is also on the city website at www.richmond.ca/weather.