The big melt has been called off.
Environment Canada has backed away from an earlier forecast calling for highs of as much as 6 C, calling instead for temperatures ranging from 2 to -2 C during the days and lows of -6 to -10 C overnight this week.
It will mean the snow that fell this week should stick around, meteorologist Doug Jones said Wednesday. A total of 12 cm fell at the Prince George Airport.
"The temperature is not going to go above zero an awful lot, except to make it a little icy in patches if it tries to melt a bit and then freeze overnight," Jones said.
He said there should be periods of sun and periods when a snowflake or two will fall over the next few days and, over the longer term, another burst of cold weather courtesy of an Arctic outbreak is probable in another week to 10 days.
Meanwhile, the city said crews returned to priority routes following heavier-than-expected snowfall overnight and will continue to clear routes throughout the day and into the night before turning their focus to the residential areas.
Winter parking restrictions remain in effect, the city added.
Onstreet parking is prohibited from midnight to 7 a.m. downtown, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. on priority one roads and hills, the hospital district, and a number of other designated roads and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in residential areas. Parking on the side of the street with odd house numbers is permitted from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.unless otherwise posted. Violators can be subject to a $50 fine and towing.
"Plowing around parked vehicles can slow down operations and create hazards for other vehicles by creating windrows in the street," the city said.
And following a flurry of snowfall warnings for much of northern B.C. over the past few days, the only one that remained in effect as of early afternoon Wednesday was for the McGregor region.
