Snowstorm: Coquihalla Highway closed from Othello to Merritt | Another winter storm could dump up to 20 cm of snow | YVR limiting international arrivals

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Extreme cold settled over much of the Lower Mainland Wednesday on the heels of heavy snow that grounded flights, jammed roads and suspended ferries.

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Environment Canada warns that bitterly cold temperatures and strong winds could make it feel between –20ºC and –30ºC in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

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The weather agency says the cold mass carried by an arctic front is expected to hang around through Thursday.

Drivers should continue to brace for difficult driving conditions with snow-covered, icy roads all over the south coast and Vancouver Island.

Check back for updates…

Coquihalla Highway closed from Othello to Merritt

A large portion of Highway 5 has been closed due to hazardous road conditions.

The transportation ministry shut down a 110-kilometre stretch of the highway between Othello, just east of Hope, and Merritt Wednesday afternoon because sand applied to the roadway to provide traction for vehicles is getting blown off the road by high arctic winds.

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The section of the Coquihalla will remain closed to motorists until winds ease and the maintenance contractor can once again establish traction on the highway surface, said the ministry.

Earlier, the DriveBC website had indicated the highway was closed between Hope and Merritt due to a vehicle incident.

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Drivers are asked to check with DriveBC for updates on road conditions.

Another winter storm barrelling towards B.C.

Here we go again.

With most of B.C.’s south coast still buried under several centimetres of snow from Tuesday’s storm, another winter storm heading towards the region is expected to dump another 20 cm of snow by Christmas Eve.

Environment Canada has issued a winter storm watch for Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Whistler, Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island starting Thursday.

This second round of snow is expected to start Thursday night, changing over to rain late Friday on Vancouver Island and Friday night or Saturday morning in Metro Vancouver. Freezing rain is possible as the cold Arctic air mass over the province starts to dissipate.

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“The exact precipitation amounts and timing of the changeover to rain remain uncertain at this point, but there is a good consensus that the combination of impactful weather will begin early Friday,” said Environment Canada in an advisory issued Wednesday afternoon.

The weather agency warned heavy snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Blowing snow is also possible due to strong easterly winds, which would cause near-zero visibility.

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Canada Post deliveries remain suspended on south Vancouver Island

Christmas gift and mail deliveries to some parts of the B.C. south coast remain suspended Wednesday due to the snow and subzero temperatures.

Canada Post’s red service alert for South Vancouver Island — Duncan, Sidney and Victoria — issued on Tuesday remains in effect, meaning there will be no mail delivery on Wednesday.

But residents in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Maple Ridge and Mission, could see mail or parcels in their mailboxes today.

On Wednesday, the postal service upgraded these regions’ delivery service alert from red to yellow. A yellow service alert means Canada Post will do their best to deliver, but may face delays.

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“While our delivery agents are doing their best to deliver through these difficult weather conditions, severe winter elements pose a safety risk to our employees – and others,” it said on Wednesday.

It is asking residents to help postal workers by clearing snow and ice from walkways, stairs, driveways and around the mailbox.

YVR limiting international arrivals for two days to clear backlog

Vancouver International Airport is still struggling to clear a backlog of planes after a wave of snowstorm-related cancellations and delays on Tuesday.

“A significant number of aircraft remain at YVR, which has led to congestion on our airfield,” said airport spokesperson Megan Sutton in an update early Wednesday.

“To help depart aircraft from the airport and get crews and passengers safely on their way, we will be temporarily limiting arriving international flights for approximately 48 hours.”

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The restriction on incoming flights was effective Wednesday at 7 a.m. Sutton said about 30 flights with 17 airlines will be affected, including All Nippon Airways, Air China, Air France, Air India, Air New Zealand, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Eurowings, Eva Air, Hainan, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Some arrivals and departures are happening, but passengers should expect delays and some cancellations and should check their airline for the latest flight information.

YVR continues to advise customers to check their flight status before coming to the airport, especially with another storm system expected on Thursday.

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Freezing an issue for SkyTrain service: TransLink

Due to below freezing temperatures, SkyTrain is urging customers to prepare for potential delays and reduced services on Wednesday.

Bus service was experiencing some delays early Wednesday. Transit users are advised to allow for extra travel time, and check their route on Trip Planner, sign up for transit alerts, or follow updates on Twitter @TransLink.

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Meanwhile, B.C. Transit said road conditions required a suspension of service in Victoria and the central Fraser Valley for another day on Wednesday.

University and college campuses reopen Wednesday

The University of B.C., Simon Fraser University and BCIT all cancelled in-person classes and exams on Tuesday, but those campuses are open on Wednesday.

Also reopening on Wednesday are Kwantlen Polytechnic, Langara, Douglas College, Vancouver Community College and Capilano University.

Power demand soars during cold snap

B.C. Hydro set a new record on Monday evening for peak hourly electricity demand (between 5 and 6 p.m.)

Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder said the previous record was set on Dec. 27, 2021, when consumption reached 10,762 megawatts. On Monday night, preliminary analysis found consumption between 5 and 6 p.m. reached over 10,800 megawatts — the highest ever recorded.

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Meanwhile Fortis B.C. — which competes with B.C. Hydro with its natural gas offerings — noted that “relying solely on power from poles and wires, which are subject to extreme weather, leaves us in a potentially vulnerable state.”

Fortis estimated it provided 20,120 megawatts of power on Monday between 5 and 6 p.m.

According to a Fortis B.C. statement: “At its extreme, replacing all of the energy provided by the gas system on the coldest days would require a three-fold expansion of B.C.’s electric system capacity. For example, during last December’s cold snap, BC Hydro recorded a new peak demand of approximately 11,000 megawatts. The gas system moved more than 20,000 megawatts of equivalent energy on that same day. While we don’t have the confirmed gas numbers for this year yet, we believe the numbers will be similar.

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“The province would be seriously challenged meeting the energy needs of all British Columbians during cold weather events without gas.”

B.C. snowfall warnings give way to extreme cold alert

Environment Canada has revised most of its public weather alerts for British Columbia from snowfall warnings to arctic outflow warnings.

Most of the snow forecast to fall has already dropped in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, but the massive arctic system will linger, making for very cold temperatures and even colder wind-chill factors.

On Monday, Environment Canada issued snowfall and wind warnings for the B.C. south coast including Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Greater Victoria and Vancouver Island.

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Accumulations of 10 to 15 centimetres were expected through Tuesday afternoon, and as much as 20 cm for the southern half of Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands. Actual snowfall amounts in most areas were even greater than those estimates, especially on the Island.

As Tuesday dawned, there were special weather warnings in effect for 41 of the remaining geographic regions.

These warnings are issued for extreme cold, snowfall, arctic outflow (winds) and winter storms.

An arctic outflow warning was issued for Metro Vancouver at noon on Tuesday.

Haida Gwaii and the northern tip of Vancouver Island were the only coastal areas with no warnings in place.

The Fraser Valley including Hope, Chilliwack and Abbotsford is under an arctic outflow warning, causing wind chills between -20 C and -25 C. Thermostats will read at least five to 10 degrees below seasonal norms in the region through Thursday before a sudden shift that will see temperatures jump to around 5 C to 7 C.

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Those with pets or outdoor animals are advised to provide proper shelter during the cold snap.

‘Mass cancellations’ at Vancouver airport

YVR temporarily suspended many flights both arriving and leaving the airport Tuesday morning due to the fierce snowstorm.

The airport authority said mid-morning on Tuesday that the current winter storm including severe snowfall has had an unprecedented impact on flights, affecting operations at YVR, with mass cancellations overnight.

“Travel continues to be significantly impacted this morning and we anticipate cancellations and delays to continue through the day and the week ahead,” said spokesperson Megan Sutton in a statement.

She added there were currently no flights departing YVR as it works to “safely get passengers off aircraft and clear the airfield and aircraft of snow and ice to get planes and people moving again.”

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By Tuesday evening most flights inbound and outbound were delayed or cancelled.

WestJet said in a release that there were 210 cancellations on Tuesday, mainly due to disruptions in Vancouver and frigid temperatures in Calgary and Edmonton and there were 146 flight cancellations on Monday and 104 on Sunday.

For more on the situation at the airport, read Joanne Lee-Young’s story here.

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Several passengers took to Twitter early Tuesday to say they were stuck on planes that had been due to leave the day before.

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https://twitter.com/DuckMatthew9/status/1605203606529265665

Abbotsford airport is also dealing with delays and cancellations Tuesday. The airport says crews are working hard to clear snow and get flights back on track.

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Photos: Snow … so much snow! Here’s what Metro Vancouver looks like today

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Extra shelter spaces open

The heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures created harsh conditions for people living outside, prompting outreach workers in Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria to convince people to come inside to get warm.

The City of Vancouver opened 88 extra warming beds last night at the Directions Youth Services Centre, Cascades Church, Bud Osborn centre on West Hastings Street, the Salvation Army Belkin House on Homer Street and the Langara YMCA.

Union Gospel Mission had 97 people sheltering inside overnight, said spokesperson Nicole Mucci. Outreach workers were out all day Monday making sure people knew where they could go to keep warm and offering them rides if needed.

“We were a little over capacity last night but we made space for people,” she said.

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For more on how the storm is affected people experiencing homelessness, read Katie DeRosa’s story here.

B.C. Ferries cancels morning sailings

B.C. Ferries cancelled most round-trip routes on Tuesday morning as it dealt with snow conditions on roads and at terminals, including main routes like Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay, Tsawwassen-Duke Point and Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay.

The Coastal Inspiration and Coastal Renaissance resumed service with a 10:15 a.m. sailing out of Tsawwassen and a 10:15 a.m. trip leaving Duke Point near Nanaimo.

Most services were back on schedule by the end of the day.

Check for updates at bcferries.com if you plan to travel.

Minimal bus service available: TransLink

Heavy snow is causing “considerable delays, particularly on the bus network,” said TransLink early Tuesday. Commuters are advised to avoid travel if possible. The transit agency says “minimal bus services are available in some areas, particularly parts of Vancouver, the North Shore and Burnaby.”

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Customers are advised to consult TransLink’s Trip Planner, sign up for transit alerts and follow on Twitter.

All three SkyTrain lines are in service and are being manually staffed to keep the trains from stopping due to snow, but there will be gaps in service. HandyDART is prioritizing those with medical appointments.

B.C. Transit says operations have been suspended throughout the Central Fraser Valley system, including Chilliwack, Hope and Agassiz-Harrison. Go to bctransit.com for updates.

Travel advisories across south coast

Most major routes have travel advisories in place Tuesday due to snowfall, including Highway 1, Highway 99, Highway 17 and Highway 15. Multiple spun-out vehicles were reported by Drive B.C. early Tuesday on a section of Highway 15.

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The Coquihalla Highway closed around 10:30 a.m. between the start of the highway and Exit 183 Othello Road because of a vehicle incident, and lengthy delays are expected.

Drive B.C. says its website has had issues Tuesday morning and technicians are working on it. The service appeared to be back in operation late morning.

The Ministry of Transportation encourages drivers in the Lower Mainland and southern and central Vancouver Island to avoid non-essential travel Tuesday. It said the amount of snow was higher than forecast, with at least 25 centimetres in the Greater Vancouver area and 30 cm on the Malahat and other areas of the Island. Environment Canada is forecasting still more snow in the next several hours.

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Visibility on the Coquihalla Tuesday is “extremely limited” due to blowing snow and caution is advised. Reduced speed limits are in effect.

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Trees down on wires cause power outages

About 6,000 people in Metro Vancouver lost power Tuesday morning, mostly on the North Shore. But most of those customers already had their power restored by early afternoon, with only a few hundred still affected.

Most of the outages are due to trees falling on wires, says B.C. Hydro. Thousands of customers on Vancouver Island also lost electricity because of the storm. (See below for more.)

LifeLabs closes several B.C. locations due to snow

If you are due to get any tests done at LifeLabs today, take note: The company says its locations in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island are closed due to winter conditions. If you require urgent assistance, the company says you can call 1-800-431-7206.

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Even more snow on Vancouver Island

On southern Vancouver Island, up to 30 centimetres of snow overnight has left thousands without power, suspended transit and closed schools. Environment Canada is forecasting another five to 10 cm Tuesday into Wednesday.

Victoria International Airport remains open and as of 5 a.m., advised passengers to anticipate delays and cancellations throughout the day. Passengers are told to check with their airline before flying and allow extra time to get to the airport.

B.C. Transit suspended service in Victoria, Cowichan Valley and the central Fraser Valley. HandyDART, which provides transit for people with mobility issues, is running essential service only for people with medical appointments. HandyDART will contact customers and their drivers will use shovels to get as close to driveways as possible.

Snow-packed tree branches fell onto power lines in several areas of Greater Victoria, leaving nearly 8,000 B.C. Hydro customers without power in Victoria, Sooke and Metchosin. There were still about half that number waiting for the lights to come back on in the early afternoon.

In Greater Victoria, the University of Victoria, Camosun College, Royal Roads University are closed, as is Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.

The B.C. legislature is closed to visitors and public services such as the dining room, gift shop and tours are not available.

— Katie DeRosa 

Note to our readers: Home delivery delayed

The heavy snowfall overnight disrupted home delivery to Vancouver Sun and Province customers.

The Tuesday print edition will be delivered tomorrow with the Wednesday newspaper. Subscribers can read a digital replica of the Tuesday papers here: Vancouver Sun | The Province.

We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience.

Drivers without winter tires should ‘stay off the road’

Drivers are advised to prepare for changing road conditions and accumulating snow, and the B.C. Ministry of Transportation said anyone whose vehicle is not properly equipped with winter tires should “stay off the road.”

At 8:30 p.m. TransLink began reporting problems, with multiple routes (including the UBC B-Line and Canada Line), experiencing delays across Metro Vancouver.

The ministry said contractors will be out in full force to manage accumulations and to drop sand for better traction, warning drivers to keep their distance and not try to pass winter maintenance vehicles.

Mainroad contractors were already working around the clock cleaning up after the last snow drop on the weekend, and are preparing to salt, sand or brine roads based on temperatures and conditions. Lane closures may go into effect on the Port Mann and Alex Fraser bridges as needed.

ICBC noted crashes peak in December, with an average of 26,000 incidents, about 2,000 more than B.C.’s monthly average.

Snowfall warnings are also in place along the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton along the Allison Pass and the Fraser Canyon including Lytton and the south Okanagan. Those areas are also expected to see 10 to 15 cm, and up to 20 cm on Highway 3.

Road conditions and closures are at drivebc.ca.

— With a file from The Canadian Press

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