Near-record cold snap
Posted Nov 22, 2010 10:02:53 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Temperatures in the Lower Mainland will remain below zero for the next three straight days as a deep layer of arctic air settles over the entire South Coast.
There won’t be any new snow, except for a few light flurries along the coastline, over the Gulf Islands and over parts of Vancouver Island. But there won’t be any accumulations in Metro Vancouver.
On Monday, we’ll see a swirling northerly wind off the mountains gusting between 30 to 50 km/h. An Arctic outflow warning is in effect for Howe Sound. In Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley Monday evening, temperatures will drop to -12, with wind chill values making it feel like -15 to -20.
The deep freeze holds through Wednesday and we could set some records this week. But it won’t be as bad as the worst November Arctic outbreak of all time which was in 1985 when temperatures were sub-zero for 13 consecutive days. Back then we hit an all-time low of -14.3.
Later this week, the Arctic air gradually retreats into the mountain and our weather changes with a chance of snow Thursday and a chance of rain Friday.
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Protecting your pipes
At these temperatures, it doesn’t take long for pipes to freeze.
Older homes or buildings with few residents have the highest risk of pipes freezing during the cold snap according to Wally Sullivan, president of Burrard Roofing and Drainage.
When it comes to hose taps, they should be turned off from the inside. “If you can’t do that, at least leave them at a dribble so that the water is moving and not freezing within the pipes… to expand the pipes and break things.”
He figures the cold weather will lead to several pipe and drainage calls, but if the snow starts up, rooftops can also be a problem.
