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Spring arrived early this year, snow in the forecast

In case you missed it, Friday was the first day of spring. The vernal (spring) equinox actually arrived in Canada at 8:50 p.m. PDT on Thursday, March 19, the earliest that's happened in 124 years.
Ted Clarke
Ted Clarke
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Crocuses have already bloomed in some Prince George gardens but some were wiped out by the unseasonably cold weather that hit the city two weekends ago. Snow is expected to fall in the city the next couple of days.Colorblends.com

In case you missed it, Friday was the first day of spring.

The vernal (spring) equinox actually arrived in Canada at 8:50 p.m. PDT on Thursday, March 19, the earliest that's happened in 124 years. The early onset of the spring season happened because this was a leap year with an extra day added to February. Not since 1896 did the change from winter to spring happen so early during the year.

The bad news from a Prince George weather perspective is it's going to look and feel a bit more like winter over the next couple of days. Snow is in the forecast for Sunday with flurries expected to develop by 9 a.m. and an overnight low of -7 C predicted.

The snow will likely turn to rain around 1 p.m. Sunday with winds picking up to 20 kilometres per hour and a high of 5 C later in the afternoon. Periods of rain or snow will continue overnight and into Monday morning. Sunday's nighttime low will be -2 C, dropping to -10 C on Monday and -12 C on Tuesday, with highs ranging from zero to 2C Monday to Wednesday.

The sun will return on Tuesday. After a mix of sun and cloud during the day Wednesday there's a 60 per cent chance of more flurries that night, as well as Thursday and Friday, with predicted highs of 6C Thursday and 3 C on Friday.

While the cool wet weather and copious amounts of snow still remaining on the ground puts a damper on gardening activities, ski conditions are still great in and around the city.

Downhill skiers and snowboarders can get their fill in the city at Hart Highlands Ski Hill or they can go east of Prince George to Purden Ski Resort, north to Powder King Ski Resort near Mackenzie, south to Troll Mountain east of Quesnel or east to Marmot Basin in Jasper.

For cross-country skiers, the trails at Otway Nordic Centre are still in excellent shape with grooming continuing. The outdoor ice oval at Exhibition Park is closed for the season.

If you do go out to get a breath of fresh air, just remember to maintain a six-foot buffer zone for social distancing, try to avoid physical contact with others you might encounter on the trails and wash yoour hands frequently and thoroughly.