While the snow had stopped falling on Wednesday evening, many Metro Vancouverites braced themselves for a second day of mayhem in the snow.
Article content
Don’t put away those snow shovels just yet.
While the snow had stopped falling on Wednesday evening, many Metro Vancouverites braced themselves for a second day of mayhem in the snow — before even more snow was set to fall later in the day.
Article content
Check back here for more updates throughout the day.
Thursday, Jan. 19 updates
Canada Post resumes delivery service in Metro Vancouver but warns of delays
Advertisement 2
Article content
Canada Post will resume delivery service on Thursday but warned customers there may be delays.
On Wednesday, the postal service had issued a red service alert, suspending all mail operations in the Metro Vancouver region due to the snow. The alert was then downgraded on Thursday morning to yellow.
“This means we will make every effort deliver today, but there may be delays and we may not reach some addresses because of ongoing icy conditions,” read a statement shared by Canada Post.
Customers are asked to clear the ice from their walkways, stairs and driveways to allow postal carriers to make deliveries safely.
Snowfall warning issued for Victoria, province prepares for more snow, freezing rain
A snowfall warning has been issued for Vancouver Island, including Victoria, with 10 to 15 centimetres of snow and a prolonged period of freezing rain expected later Thursday.
The freezing rain will continue through Friday morning and is expected to change to rain around midday Friday, according to a warning from Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The agency warns that highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow and may become icy and slippery.
Advertisement 3
Article content
Meantime, B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation issued a statement Thursday morning to say its maintenance contractors are preparing for freezing rain and snow through the Fraser Valley, in Metro Vancouver, along the Sea to Sky Highway, and on southern and central Vancouver Island.
In the Lower Mainland, snow is expected this afternoon, which could turn to freezing rain this evening as the weather warms. The cable collar systems on the Port Mann and Alex Fraser bridges will be in operation as necessary, the ministry said.
The ministry said freezing rain is one of the most difficult weather conditions to effectively manage, and bridges and roads may be closed to traffic in the interest of public safety.
Power usage jumped but didn’t break hourly record
While many British Columbians stayed home during the snow storm Wednesday, power usage didn’t crack previous records.
Power usage hit a peak of 10,000 megawatts on Wednesday, according to BC Hydro spokeswoman Susie Rieder. That remains below the record-breaking 11,300 megawatts recorded last Friday when the cold snap first began.
Sunrise
Article content
Advertisement 4
Article content
The previous record was 10,977 megawatts, set in December 2022.
As well, less than 100 customers remained without power on Thursday morning, after the previous day’s snow saw thousands of customers experiencing outages due to the snow conditions or trees across wires.
Snow likely to blame for life-threatening crash in Abbotsford
A 31-year-old man is in critical condition following a crash on Thursday morning in Abbotsford.
According to police, the pedestrian was struck around 6:15 a.m. on Thursday, near North Parallel Road and Fooks Road. First responders arrived to find the pedestrian suffering from serious and life-threatening injuries. He remains in hospital on Thursday morning.
“The driver of the involved vehicle remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation,” according to a news release from Abby PD.
“Impairment is not believed to be a factor in the crash, with inclement weather and snow likely being contributing factors.”
A number of road closures on North Parallel Road between Whatcom and Kilgard remain in effect, as investigators probe the crash.
Advertisement 5
Article content
TransLink experiencing some delays, detours
Those looking to get around town using public transit should keep an eye on schedule changes and closures.
Expo Line trains typically scheduled to reach Production Way are now terminating at Lougheed Station due to “inclement weather,” according to a TransLink update.
Customers who need to reach Production-Way Station will need to transfer to the Millennium Line at Lougheed Station to continue their trip.
A number of buses are also using detour routes. TransLink is advising riders to check ahead for detours before leaving home.
Looks like another snow day for Metro Vancouver students
All school districts in the Metro Vancouver area have announced a second day of school closures.
For a list of school closures visit Snow Day for Jan. 18: Which Metro Vancouver schools are open and closed
Most post-secondary institutions across Metro Vancouver have also cancelled in-person classes for Thursday.
B.C. Ferries cancels some sailings
B.C. Ferries has cancelled some sailings this morning because of adverse weather.
The Salish Eagle is unable to dock at Sturdies Bay on Galiano Island so the following sailings have been cancelled for today:
Advertisement 6
Article content
7:45 a.m. departing Village Bay to Sturdies Bay
8:20 a.m. departing Sturdies Bay to Tsawwassen
B.C. Ferries says if conditions do not improve, the following sailings are at risk of cancellation:
9:55 a.m. departing Tsawwassen to Sturdies Bay
11 a.m. departing Sturdies Bay to Village Bay
Snow warning lifted for Metro Vancouver, but freezing rain alerts for Fraser Valley
Environment and Climate Change Canada has lifted the snowfall warning for Metro Vancouver but several freezing rain alerts are in effect this morning.
The federal weather agency says the lingering cold air will cause an extended period of freezing rain this evening after more snow falls this afternoon in the Fraser Valley Thursday.
In Langley, expect freezing rain tonight before it transitions to rain by Friday morning. The freezing rain is expected to continue Friday in Abbotsford and Chilliwack.
The federal weather agency warns that surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy and slippery and urges drivers to use extra caution.
An alert on Drive B.C. says snow and freezing rain are forecast between Thursday and Friday and drivers should expect rapidly deteriorating road conditions and short notice closures. Travel is not recommended unless necessary.
Advertisement 7
Article content
Although the snowfall warning was lifted for Metro Vancouver, more snow is in the forecast for the region this afternoon. Commuters travelling on public transit are being asked to dress warm as there is a wind chill factor of – 4 C expected this morning.
Overnight, there’s a risk of freezing rain and more snow or rain in Metro Vancouver.
Advertisement 8
Article content
Advertisement 9
Article content
Some post-secondary schools cancel classes again
Major post-secondary institutions across Metro Vancouver have cancelled in-person classes for Thursday.
UBC, SFU, BCIT, and Capilano University will not be open for classes due to the continuing weather event. Students are asked to reach out to instructors for more information. Kwantlen, VCC and Douglas College also announced they would be closed for in-person learning.
CLICK HERE for an updated list of Metro Vancouver school districts and post-secondary schools that have announced Thursday closures.
More to come …
Send us photos and details of the weather-related mayhem you’re seeing across the region to vantips@postmedia.com.
Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Don’t miss the news you need to know — add VancouverSun.com and TheProvince.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.
You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber: For just $14 a month, you can get unlimited access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Vancouver Sun | The Province.
Article content
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiU2h0dHBzOi8vdmFuY291dmVyc3VuLmNvbS9uZXdzL2xvY2FsLW5ld3MvbWV0cm8tdmFuY291dmVyLXNub3dzdG9ybS1saXZlLWphbi0xOC0yMDI00gEA?oc=5
2024-01-18 18:00:00Z
CBMiU2h0dHBzOi8vdmFuY291dmVyc3VuLmNvbS9uZXdzL2xvY2FsLW5ld3MvbWV0cm8tdmFuY291dmVyLXNub3dzdG9ybS1saXZlLWphbi0xOC0yMDI00gEA
Comments