Whistler gets first snowfall of the season

Heading to Whistler for the long weekend? Then you might want to pack warmly.

Whistler Blackcombgot about threecentimetresof snow in the high-alpine areas of the mountain resort overnight.

Sarah Morden, a spokeswomanfor the ski resort, says the light dusting was the first accumulation of the season.

"You can feel the shift in the season happening here," she said.

"Definitely, the autumn leaves are changing colour, and the snowfall just solidifies that."

CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe says the snowfall in September isn't unusual.

The higher elevation snow is the result ofa cold, low-pressure system spinning in the upper atmosphere. It's the same one that brought the cool and rainy weather to Vancouver these past few days, saidWagstaffe.

However, the low pressure system is slowly tracking towardAlberta, so she addedthere isn't likely to bemore fresh powder this weekend.

La Nina likely means more snow

After a summer of El Nino-related weather, B.C. is now expected toexperience the effects of La Nina, which couldbring with itunusually cool ocean temperatures.

That means a lot of snow for the mountains.

"La Nina seasons have meant abundant winter snowfalls with the snowiest seasons," Mordenadded, saying there islots of buzz and excitement for upcoming season.

"Everyone is waiting with bated breath."