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Meltdown this week in Chilliwack as cold snap gives way to rain

The forecast is for temperatures to remain above freezing in Chilliwack for the remainder of the week
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City crews have been dispatched to locate and unblock catch basins around town to prevent localized flooding. So far no residential properties have reported flooding.

The cold snap gave way to warmer temperatures Monday making a melting mess in Chilliwack.

Everyone is being asked to continue keeping catch basins on their streets clear to prevent localized flooding.

Another round of light snow that came from a Pacific front over the coast turned to rain. When the mercury began to rise there was still up to 20 cm on the ground in some parts of Chilliwack.

Many roads became extra slick with an icy base then snow and rain on top.

The moderate rain in combination with melting snow could cause some issues like flooding, so the city operations department are asking folks to keep culverts and catch basins clear if possible.

City crews have been dispatched to locate and unblock catch basins around town.

Some surfaces like highways, roads, walkways and parking lots are difficult to navigate, so the experts say to go slow, and take frequent breaks and avoid strain when clearing snow.

Pooling water and compact snow create slippery conditions.

There have been some record low temperatures hitting Chilliwack last week including the minimum low of -10 on Saturday, Dec. 17, said Roger Pannett, volunteer weather observer for Environment Canada. That cold day was 9.9 degrees below normal, and was the coldest December temperature since the -10 on Dec. 10, 2009.

But the warming trend brought warmer temps, and the forecast is for temperatures to remain above freezing for the remainder of the week.

 



Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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