Southern British Columbia could see up to 20 cm of snow as the second storm of 2024 approaches from the Pacific.
Southwest British Columbia, including Metro Vancouver, was blanketed with snow overnight, causing school closures throughout the area and making the morning commute challenging.
A low-pressure system coming in from the Pacific Ocean is expected to deposit up to 20 centimeters of snow in some areas by Wednesday night, according to Environment Canada.
For all of Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, the Sunshine Coast, and the majority of southern British Columbia, there is a snowfall warning in effect.
Early on Wednesday, the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver school districts all declared that there would be no classes.
On Thursday, all of the schools in the Greater Victoria School District (SD 61) would open, while the schools in Nanaimo, further up the island, remained closed.
It is recommended that parents residing in other parts of the province visit the website of their district or school.
As snowfall accumulates in the second winter storm of 2024, the majority of post-secondary institutions, including the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, BCIT, Capilano University, Douglas College, and Vancouver Community College, also canceled on-campus classes.
Environment Canada issued a warning that the heavy snow could reduce visibility, making it challenging to walk on sidewalks or even on roads.
Forty distinct regions throughout the province have received snowfall warnings from the weather service.
The city of Vancouver has issued an extreme weather alert that will last until Thursday. In addition, more warming centers and shelter spaces have opened.
The City of Vancouver has advised motorists to use city traffic cameras to monitor road conditions and has only permitted necessary travel on city roadways.
TransLink reported that there were multiple detours in place due to the snow affecting bus routes. Passengers wishing to continue their journey to Production-Way Station must transfer at Lougheed Town Centre Station, as Expo Line trains on the SkyTrain network only run from Waterfront Station to that station and back.
Flight schedules are also being impacted by the weather, according to Vancouver International Airport. It is requesting that travelers inquire about the status of their flights with the airlines.
According to B.C. Ferries, crews were having difficulties reaching terminals because of hazardous road conditions, which caused some sailings to be delayed on Wednesday morning.
The province’s Ministry of Transportation’s Kanelle Staite reports that in order to deal with the conditions, tow trucks, equipment for brining and salting, and other equipment are stationed on highways. The ministry also requests that drivers ensure that they have emergency supplies in case there are delays or closures of roads.
“So you do want to make sure that you have sufficient fuel if you do have to be waiting in an area, as well as a blanket and some food to keep you warm,” she explained.
Similar recommendations were made by the maintenance teams in charge of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island’s highways. They advised anyone who must travel by car to have warm clothing, food, water, and fully charged phones.
Go to DriveBC.ca to see the most recent road conditions throughout the province.
The remainder of the week is expected to bring rain, with Saturday highs reaching 8 C.
