Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for eastern Vancouver Island.Expect 10-25 cm of snow this morning a bulletin issued at 8:48 says. There will be flurries with heavy snow at times over southern sections. It will be windy over southern sections this afternoon with a high of plus 2.Periods of snow will end late this evening then it will be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of flurries. Local amount 2 cm over southern sections. Windy over southern sections. Low minus 6.Thursday will be cloudy with a 40 per cent chance of flurries in the morning then sunny with cloudy periods. Windy over southern sections. High plus 1.A strong Arctic ridge of high pressure over the Central Interior of British Columbia is driving cold air and strong winds through valleys of the north and central coasts, Environment Canada says. Windchill values of minus 20 to minus 25 are expected to begin this evening. The cold windchills are forecast to persist into Thursday night. Bands of heavy snow have developed over Southern Vancouver island rotating around a low pressure centre. The unstable airmass is giving heavy localized accumulations which have produced 10-25 cm in just a few hours in Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands. Embedded in these cells are the odd lightning strike. Reports of 12 to 20 cm of snow have been received between Sooke and metchosin on Highway 14 west of Victoria as well as from several weather watchers in the city of Victoria. The snow has spread into southern sections of east Vancouver Island where a weather watcher from ladysmith has recently reported heavy snow. 10 to 15 cm of snow can be expected locally there. Meanwhile the Arctic ridge will also allow winds to strengthen through Howe Sound. By this evening, northerly winds of 70 km/h with gusts to 90 are expected and these will remain into Thursday morning before diminishing somewhat.