People are urged to prepare for extremely cold weather and snow in many communities across British Columbia, starting today and lasting into early next week.

After a warm start to winter across much of the province, British Columbians are encouraged to prepare for colder weather and winter road conditions in the days and weeks ahead.

Winter is coming and the Province is helping ensure people in B.C. are prepared for the arrival of colder temperatures and other winter hazards with new cold-weather response funding and preparedness resources.

With warming temperatures increasing the likelihood of rising water levels, British Columbians are encouraged to prepare for potential spring floods, while the Province, local governments and First Nations work together to keep people and communities safe.

Drivers are advised that heavy snow, freezing rain and high winds overnight are expected to create poor driving conditions in many parts of the Fraser Valley and throughout coastal B.C.

A strong winter storm is forecast to affect many parts of B.C. from Friday through to Sunday.