BC Snowfall Prompts Cancellations, Travel Delays & Another Winter Storm Is On The Way
After a historically snowy day was seen Wednesday across B.C.'s south coast, the province is in for another round of wintry weather that could make travel difficult.
The major winter storm that hit B.C. this week delivered significant snowfall totals, resulting in air and road delays, several school closures and power outages.
Now, a messy winter storm is threatening to bring more snow, rain, freezing rain and even ice pellets to the province.
Why you should care: According to The Weather Network, a second system is moving in with "heavy amounts of ice accretion."
Precipitation will start over Vancouver Island through late Thursday morning. The west side of Vancouver Island will start as rain, whereas the mountains, the east side of Vancouver Island and Victoria will start as snow, according to the forecast.
Through Thursday and Friday, the city of Vancouver is set to see less than 2 centimetres of snow, while some regions on Vancouver Island could as much as 20 centimetres.
There's also the risk of freezing rain on south Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver through Thursday afternoon and evening.
Areas further east like Abbotsford and the eastern Fraser Valley have the risk of seeing "persistent" freezing rain through the overnight hours.
Some areas could see 5-10 millimetres of ice accretion, which could cause power outages and some tree damage and create slippery driving conditions.
There is also the possibility for localized flooding with 30 millimetres of rainfall across the area on top of the 30 centimetres of snow that has already fallen, says TWN.
What they’re saying: Environment Canada has issued several snowfall, winter storm and freezing rain warnings for the province, warning drivers to "take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas" and be prepared to adjust their driving as things become slippery.
The winter weather is expected to impact air travel as well, with Vancouver International Airport advising travellers to check the status of their flights before heading out.
"We are expecting winter weather to continue today," the airport said on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Thursday. "Crews at YVR have been working around the clock to keep our airfield clear of snow and ice. Please check the status of your flight before coming to the airport and give yourself plenty of time to get here safely."
The University of British Columbia has also cancelled all in-person learning activities on the Vancouver campus for January 18 due to "anticipated weather and road conditions through the morning and afternoon."
"Students are asked to look for communication from instructors. Necessary services will be maintained," the university said on X.
ICYMI: This second round of wintry weather comes after a winter storm buried parts of B.C. in more than 30 centimetres of snow.
According to TWN, Vancouver International Airport recorded 25 centimetres of snowfall on Wednesday afternoon, making it the second-snowiest January day on record and the snowiest since 2008.
A total of 31 centimetres was also reported in Port Coquitlam, with 29 centimetres in Surrey.
At one point, more than 20,000 customers in the province were facing power outages due to the storm. More than 500 customers were still without power as of late Thursday morning, according to BC Hydro.
What comes next: An "active and unsettled pattern" will continue into the weekend and through most of next week for the province, according to TWN, with "mild Pacific air" through the end of January and snow and rain for south coast ski areas.
This article's left-hand cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
