Environment Canada has warnings issued for extreme cold, winter storms, snowfall, and icy Arctic winds across much of the province.
An “excruciatingly cold air mass” has settled over interior British Columbia, the federal agency said Sunday, warning that nighttime lows could range from minus 30 ° C to minus 50 ° C with the wind chill.
Records were broken at Agassiz, Burns Lake, Port Alberni and Vernon on Sunday, with temperatures of minus 11.9 C, minus 38.6 C, minus 12.3 C and minus 19.2 C, respectively.
Vernon made the biggest leap – his previous record on December 26 was minus 15.4 in 2008.
Parts of British Columbia have already broken records for the coldest December 26 on record.
Global News
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Extreme Cold Warnings are in effect for the Cariboo region, the 100-mile area, the Peace River region, the Cassiar Mountains and Bulkley Valley, and the Lakes District.
A warning was also issued for Fort Nelson, Williston, Yellowhead, McGregor, Prince George, Watson Lake, Muncho Lake and Stone Mountain parks, and the Stuart-Nechako region.
The cold will last until Monday morning, Environment Canada forecasts, with some moderation in temperature Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Arctic wind advisories have been issued for the Central Coast regions, East Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria, Howe Sound area, Metro Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, and Fraser Valley.
Freezing winds below -20 ° C are expected between Sunday night and Wednesday, with “near record temperatures” earlier in the week, Environment Canada said.
The City of Vancouver has published a list of facilities with shelter space, including the Langara YMCA, Cascades and Décima churches, Evelyne Saller Center and Bud Osborn EWR.
On Sunday, temperatures were 10 ° C below Vancouver’s seasonal average with a high of minus 4 ° C and a wind chill of minus 13 ° C.
Winter conditions also prompted a series of travel advisories and road closures across the province, along with ferry cancellations at Upper Arrow Lake on Sunday morning.
Through DriveBC, the Ministry of Transport discourages non-essential travel in several servings of Highways 1, 14, 17 and 3.
A snowfall warning of up to four centimeters was also issued for eastern Vancouver Island.
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