Slippery roads and bitter cold in parts of B.C. as heavy snow falls on Sunday - Action News
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British Columbia

Slippery roads and bitter cold in parts of B.C. as heavy snow falls on Sunday

Multiple vehicles spun out on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver Sunday as winter storms, snowfall and extreme cold warnings were in place throughout most of the province.

Snowfall affecting transportation in Lower Mainland, extreme cold warnings in the interior and north

A row of vehicles on a snowy highway, with the guard rails covered by snow.
Snow-covered vehicles on Highway 1 on Sunday. More than 10 centimetres of snow fell on the South Coast, paralyzing transport networks for the second time in two weeks. (Nick Allan/CBC)

UPDATE:Weather warnings cover much of B.C. as bitter cold settles in, more snow approaches


Multiplevehicles spun out on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver as weather warnings for extreme cold, winter storms and snowfallwere in place across most of British ColumbiaSunday.

It comes after Environment Canada warned of extreme cold, Arctic outflows and snowfallearlier Saturday. On Sunday, social media posts showed dozens of cars and busesstruggling with the conditions in Metro Vancouver.

A snowfall warning had been in placefor Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, where around15 centimetres of snow was expected in the Fraser Valley and up to 10 centimetres for Metro Vancouver by Sunday afternoon.

The Whistler and Sea to Sky regions also dealth with challenging travel conditions due to the snow, with the Sea to Sky Highway and Highway 1 expected to be hit the hardest.

"The ministry's maintenance contractor continues to treat Highway 1 with abrasives," reada statement from the province on Sunday morning. "Drivers with vehicles not properly equipped with winter tires should avoid this section of Highway 1."

A webcam shows a significant amount of snowfall and piled up cars at a highway exit.
A traffic camera shows cars piled up at the Cross Street exit of Highway 1 in West Vancouver on Sunday. The B.C. government warned of delays on the route due to spun-out cars, just two weeks after a snowstorm caused traffic chaos in the region. (DriveBC)

Snow caused delays on bus routes throughout Metro Vancouver and TransLink, the regional transportation authority, said it was cancelling non-essential HandyDart service.

The travel chaos comes less than threeweeks after a snowstorm brought Metro Vancouver to its kneesNov. 29. The chaos promptedcalls for a coordinated regional response from the province and regional governments.

Environment Canada says Sunday's snowfall on the South Coast is due to an Arctic front that is pushing west from the B.C. Interior. Wind chill is expected to make it feel like 20 C in the Fraser Valley.

As of Sunday evening at 2:30p.m., close to 2,400B.C. Hydro customers were without power in the Lower Mainland.

Ross McDonald, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says below-seasonal temperatures will stick around throughout next week, with maximum temperatures in Metro Vancouver "struggling" to break 5 C.

Earlier on Sunday, McDonald says meteorologists observed a phenomenon called "thundersnow" when an unstable air mass, and the right conditions, causedlightning to come out of clouds and thunder to be heard around Metro Vancouver.

"Quite a unique phenomenon in general, and especially around here [Vancouver] as we don't really see too much in the way of thunderstorms," he told CBC News.

WATCH | How thundersnow forms in the atmosphere:

What is Thundersnow?

8 years ago
Duration 2:11
What is Thundersnow?

Extreme cold throughout Interior, North

Meanwhile, in central B.C., Environment Canada issued anextreme cold warning for most of the region. The warning covers the Chilcotin, Quesnel, Williams Lake, Prince George, Stuart, and 100 Mile regions.

The forecaster says conditions are expected to last until Wednesday morning at least, due to an Arctic air mass that has settled over the region.

Overnight temperatures will drop to 30 C, with wind gusts of over 40 km/h making it feel like 40.

"Risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter," the warning reads.

"Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions," the forecaster adds, with warnings already in place for winter storms along the recently-repaired Coquihalla Highway. The highway was closed outright on Sunday afternoon due to two incidents in both the northbound and southbound lanes.

A person shovels snow next to a dog on a snowy street.
Sunday was a day for shovelling snow and digging out cars in Metro Vancouver, and the forecast suggests similar work will be required this week. (Nick Allan/CBC)

In the southern Interior, extreme cold warnings are in place for the Elk Valley and Yoho Park regions, and a snowfall warning has been posted for the West Kootenay region.

Wind chill could make it feel like 35 C overnight near Elk Valley and Yoho Park, which straddle the B.C.-Alberta border.

Two yellow utility vehicles shovel snow near a transmission tower.
Two vehicles attempt to remove snow near a transmission tower in Port Moody, B.C. More than 10 centimetres of snow fell on the South Coast, paralyzing transport networks for the second time in two weeks. (Yvette Brend/CBC)

Arctic outflow warnings remain in place for the Central and North Coasts, including the inland sections. Extreme cold warnings are in place inMuncho Lake Park, Dease Lake, Cassiar Mountains and Watson Lake regions in the far north.

Special weather statements, warning of frostbite risk, cover theHaines Road, Atlin, Teslin, Peace River, Williston and Fort Nelson regions.

With files from Akshay Kulkarni, Gurpreet Kambo and The Canadian Press