Snowfall warning issued for Vancouver Island as 10 cm expected overnight

A large swath of Vancouver Island is in for heavy snowfall Friday night.
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for eastern Vancouver Island, focused especially on the communities of Courtenay and Campbell River, B.C.
Up to 10 centimetres are forecast Friday night and into Saturday morning as a low-pressure system moves over the region.
"Precipitation will start as rain this afternoon then become mixed with snow at sea level this evening," the weather office said.
"Over higher elevations, rain will change to snow this evening as precipitation rates increase and snow levels lower."
The falling snow is expected to change back to rain on Saturday.
"Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations," Environment Canada warns.
"Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance."
Road maintenance contractor Mainroad issued its own alert Friday, saying work crews will be patrolling highways in the northern and eastern sections of the island this weekend to clear snow and ice until the storm passes.
WIND WARNING
Environment Canada has also issued a wind warning for the Greater Victoria area on Friday.
Wind gusts between 70 km/h and 90 km/h are expected in the region beginning late Friday afternoon.
The strong winds will persist overnight until easing early Saturday morning, according to the weather office.
Environment Canada is warning residents that tree branches and other debris may be tossed during the windstorm.
The weather office is also urging beachgoers to be cautious Saturday morning.
"In addition to the very strong winds, this event will also coincide with local high tides at 10 a.m. on Saturday," said Environment Canada in a statement.
"The combined force of the two could create a high water level situation along beaches affecting coastal walkways and debris washing further up the shoreline."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tyre Nichols' brutal beating by police shown on video
Memphis authorities released video footage Friday showing Tyre Nichols being beaten by police officers who held the Black motorist down and repeatedly struck him with their fists, boots and batons as he screamed for his mother and pleaded, ''I'm just trying to go home.'

CRA head says it 'wouldn't be worth the effort' to review all ineligible pandemic payments
The head of the Canada Revenue Agency says it 'wouldn't be worth the effort' to fully review $15.5 billion in potentially ineligible pandemic wage benefit payments flagged by Canada's Auditor General.
Lifelong Toronto Maple Leafs fan fulfils dream of seeing first game, passes away next day
Mike Davy always dreamed of going to a Toronto Maple Leafs game, and once it finally happened, he passed away the night after.
WHO decision on COVID-19 emergency won't affect Canada's response: Tam
The World Health Organization will announce Monday whether it thinks COVID-19 still represents a global health emergency but Canada's top doctor says regardless of what the international body decides, Canada's response to the coronavirus will not change.
Canadian university faculty getting older, more female compared to 50 years ago: StatCan
Canadian university professors are mostly older and increasingly more female compared to 50 years ago, a new report from Statistics Canada has found.
Canadian Hyundai vehicles unaffected by theft issue in the U.S., company says
Hyundai cars in Canada don't have the same anti-theft issue compared to those in the United States, a company spokesperson says, following reports that two American auto insurers are refusing to write policies for older models.
Video shows struggle for hammer during Pelosi attack
Video released publicly Friday shows the husband of former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struggling with his assailant for control of a hammer moments before he was struck in the head during a brutal attack in the couple's San Francisco home last year.
Remembering the horrors of the Holocaust 78 years after liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau
In an emotional and powerful speech at an International Holocaust Remembrance Day event in Ottawa, a survivor stressed the importance of remembering the millions of victims murdered by the Nazis during the Second World War and underscored the need to stand up against anti-semitism and hate.
Canadian study suggests we may be underestimating children’s memory capabilities
New research from York University suggests that we may be underestimating what kids are capable of when it comes to their memories.