Get your Bernie Sanders mittens ready. It's about to get cold in Metro Vancouver

Bernie Sanders won't be the only one needing warm mittens this week.

British Columbians are in for the coldest stretch of the year as a winter high pressure zone settles into place across the province.

In Metro Vancouver that means clearing skies and sub-zero temperatures beginning Thursday night.

Friday is forecast to be clear with a wind chill of 6 C, according to CBC meteorologist Johanna Wagstaffe, with daytime temperatures rising to 4 C.

Friday night into Saturday is set tobe the coldest night this season at 3 C to 5 C.

Saturdaystays sunny until a low-pressure system brings in a wintry mix overnight into Sunday, including a couple of centimetres of snow.

The snow will change intorain on Sunday but the long-range forecast shows a chance of more snow falling next week.

Vancouver opening warming sites

As part of Vancouver's extreme weather response, the city is opening more shelter space starting Thursdayto provide people with a safe place during cold winter months.

Directions Youth Services Centre at1138 Burrard St.can provide overnight accommodationfora small number ofyouth who are up to 24 years old.

Shelter spaces for adults will be available at:

• Evelyn Saller Centre, 320 Alexander St.
• Tenth Church, 11 West 10th Ave.
• Langara YMCA, 282 West 49th Ave
• Powell Street Getaway, 528 Powell St.

More shelter spaces are being added on Saturday at:

• Vancouver Aquatic Centre, 1050 Beach Ave.
• Creekside Community Centre, 1 Athletes Way.

The city says measures are in place at shelters and warming centres to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.