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Snow appears in forecast for next week in Fraser Valley

Extreme weather shelter in Hope could be open by Monday
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District plows cleaned the streets of Hope, after storm conditions brought up to 15 cm of snow to Hope last winter. (Emelie Peacock file photo)

A few flurries and a cold snap have appeared in the seven-day forecast for Hope and other regions in the Fraser Valley.

This week’s sunny skies will be replaced by rain and even some snow in Hope, according to an early Wednesday’s report from Environment Canada. They were briefly forecasting some snow mixed with rain on Monday evening for Hope, Chilliwack, Agassiz and Abbotsford with a low of 2C.

But other forecast systems, including the Weather Network, are still predicting lows below zero that evening, and snow through the early part of next week.

Gerry Dyble, executive director of the Hope and Area Transition Society, said Wednesday that she expects to open the extreme weather shelter on Monday.

“I check the Weather Network for these purposes,” she says, “and from the looks of it I will be calling extreme weather conditions on Monday.”

Extreme weather shelters are approved by BC Housing, and they require that the weather be below zero and/or have long periods of wet weather.

Dyble acknowledges that it’s already quite cold in Hope, especially in certain areas closer to the mountains, but that they have to go by the regulations provided. The shelter, at 650 Old Hope Princeton Way, has 20 beds regularly. Extreme weather allows them to increase the number of beds they can provide. Right now, she said, they are full and turning people away.

However, those in need of warmth can still go there and get a hot meal or cup of coffee and escape the elements at least briefly, she said.

And those who want to help out can bring items to help others get through the winter weather. Those items include coats, warm boots, gloves, and toques.



Jessica Peters

About the Author: Jessica Peters

I began my career in 1999, covering communities across the Fraser Valley ever since.
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