If you had any doubts that heavy snow is on the way, Environment Canada has some news for you.
The agency replaced a special statement issued early this morning with a full-blown warning this afternoon that a significant amount of snowfall is on its way.
The step was taken because the agency regards the chance of snow as a certainty rather than just a possibility.
"We've upgraded it to a warning," Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon said.
Starting midday Thursday, an atmospheric river is to bring 15-20 centimetres of the white stuff to most of B.C.'s Central Interior - from 100 Mile House to the south to the Stuart-Nechako to the west - and up to 30 centimetres to the Cariboo Mountains. The Pine Pass and B.C. Peace can expect about 10 centimetres.
Warnings for 15-20 centimetres have also been issued for the Fraser Valley, Fraser Canyon, Similkameen, Nicola and Okanagan Valley are also in effect.
Drivers should be prepared for poor driving conditions, with heavy and blowing snow combined with winds out of the southeast gusting from 30 to 60 km/h.
Freezing levels will rise above 1,000 metres Friday morning changing to the snow to a few showers.
