ENVIRONMENT Canada says there will be snowfall with total accumulation of 5 to 15 cm across the B.C. south coast from tonight to Sunday afternoon.

A cool airmass associated with a low pressure system will bring snow or rain beginning Saturday evening on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast and late Saturday evening or midnight for the Lower Mainland and Malahat Highway.

The mixed precipitation will change to snow by early Sunday morning as precipitation rates increase.

The complex terrain around the south coast will result in varied snowfall totals across the region. Communities immediately near the water such as Comox, Parksville, Nanaimo and downtown Vancouver will see up to 5 cm of snow. Higher elevations and inland sections of Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley – West, Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast will see higher accumulations.

At this time, elevations near 300 metres of Metro Vancouver could see up to 10 cm of snow. Inland and higher elevations of East Vancouver Island – Campbell River to Courtenay could see 10 to 15 cm.

The Malahat Highway will see 10 cm of snow between tonight and Sunday afternoon.

Snow will change to rain or become mixed with rain late Sunday afternoon.

Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations.