High winds, heavy precipitation hit B.C.’s north as atmospheric river arrives

PRINCE GEORGE — British Columbia’s north coast is being hit by strong winds, rain and snow as an atmospheric river system brings weather warnings and another blast of winter to the region.

The west coast of Haida Gwaii has seen gusts of up to 105 kilometres an hour, while a wind warning calls for gusts of around 120 kilometres an hour from Prince Rupert south to Port McNeill on the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

Heavy snow has been recorded in Stewart on the border with the Alaska Panhandle, and the town is under a winter storm warning that also covers the South Klondike Highway further north, with up to 40 centimetres in the forecast.

A snowfall warning that calls for up to 20 centimetres has also been issued for the Cassiar Mountains area into Yukon, covering much of the area surrounding Watson Lake.

Back in the north coast, Environment Canada says up to 100 millimetres of rain is expected to fall in communities such as Prince Rupert, Terrace and Kitimat through to Saturday morning due to the atmospheric river system.

Roughly 15 centimetres of snow could also fall in inland sections of major highways in the region.

Wind warnings also cover the B.C. central coast and northern Vancouver Island, where gusts of 108 kilometres an hour were recorded Friday at remote Sartine Island.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 9, 2026.