Light snow is already blanketing parts of Vancouver Island and residents of Metro Vancouver are bracing for the white stuff as another blast of winter bears down on the South Coast.

Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings for Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria, East Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley, with special weather statements also warning of snow across Howe Sound and Inland Vancouver Island.

The heaviest snowfall isn't expected until later today for the Greater Vancouver area, but amounts of up to 20 centimetres are forecast before the snow turns to rain or freezing rain tomorrow.

Vancouver residents are nervous because snowfalls in December, followed by a stretch of rare, sub-zero weather, turned many streets and sidewalks into skating rinks for weeks.