Icy snap tempts B.C. pond skaters, promises up to 20 cm snow inland

B.C. it's cold outside!

More snow is expected over the next two days with warnings of up to 20 centimetres for parts of the Central Coast.

It's expected to fall fast and furious making travel difficult as Christmas approaches.

"Cold arctic air will continue to filter out of the B.C. Interior towards the coast through the weekend ... and bring heavy snow to the region through Sunday," said a recent alert from Environment Canada.

Snowfall, with total amounts of 10 to 15 centimetres, is expected along much of the south West Coast and inland areas.

There is an extreme cold warning in effect for Yoho and KootenayNational Parks.

Brisk 20 to 50 kilometre-per-hour winds are expected to increase wind chill values up to 35 degrees Celsius.

Anybody spending a lot of time outdoors is warned to dress warmly to prevent hypothermia.

• Coroners Service says 3 deaths in B.C. linked to cold

Homeless advocates all over B.C.urged officialsto provide more help,from blankets to warming shelters, for people bedding down on the street.

And cold temperatures have frozen ponds and lakes near Vancouverthat have not seen skaters in years.

In Vancouver, early morning pond hockey players braved Trout Lake despite clear signage that warned: "Thin Ice: Keep off."

But the lows of 9 Cseen in Victoria and Vancouver where deep freeze temperatures are not the norm have risen slightly, only expected to dip to 3overnight.