Sudden snowfall, winter weather snarl traffic in B.C.'s Lower Mainland

Heavy snow hit Metro Vancouver on Thursday just before the afternoon commute, leading to delays, collisions, skiddingand spin-outs on some major routes.

While the snow subsided later in the evening, icy conditions made for treacherous driving conditions. Police closed off a long stretch of Davie Street in Vancouver's West End, and in New Westminster, drivers were warned that multiple semi-trucks and buses were stuck on the Queensborough Bridge.

Vancouver police also asked drivers to avoid the McGillStreet off-ramp on the westbound lanes of Highway 1 because of icy conditions.

Vancouver Fire Rescue Services asked people not to drive unless absolutely necessary, especially on hills, writing on social media that firefighters weredealing with several vehicle incidents. As of about 4:45 p.m. PT, the fire rescue service said about 30 vehicles had crashed in the city.

In Richmond, RCMP reported a crash involving more than 25 vehicles on Highway 91 east of Nelson Road.

The Transportation Ministry said it was forced to close the southbound counterflow lane of the George Massey Tunnel in Richmond just before 5 p.m. because of "extremely slippery conditions" that had caused multiple vehicles to struggle with their traction. The lane reopened just before 6:30 p.m. after it was plowed and salted.

In North Vancouver, a transit bus lost traction in the snow on Highway 1 at Mountain Highway at about 3 p.m.,blocking most westbound traffic, according to DriveBC.

Within about 30 minutes, the bus and other spun-out vehicles had been moved to the right laneto allow two lanes of traffic through.

Meanwhile, TransLink was reporting detours and delays on a number of bus routes, as well as SkyTrain's Millennium Line,because of the weather.

WATCH| Officials warn travellers to drive carefully on Lower Mainland roads:

Commuters urged to be careful on the road as heavy snow hits Metro Vancouver

8 months ago

Duration 4:01

Temperatures could feel as cold as -20 C with wind chill in Metro Vancouver in the coming hours, as heavy snow hit the region just before the afternoon commute. Officials in the Lower Mainland are urging people to take care while commuting.

Environment Canada said two centimetres of snow had been recorded at Vancouver International Airport as of 4 p.m., but the worst of the snowstorm was over.

The City of North Vancouver said it had four trucks out salting the roads, plus one focusing on cycling routes, and crews would be working through the night to clear the roads.

High winds also caused some trouble for ferrytravellers in the region on Thursday night. B.C. Ferries said the predicted wave height was toohigh between Horseshoe Bay and Bowen Island, and cancelled all sailings beginning at 9:30 p.m.

The ferry corporation warned that if conditions did not improve, Friday morning sailings would have to be cancelled as well.

WATCH| Snow causes trouble for bus in Vancouver:

Vancouver bus stuck on sidewalk as snow hits Lower Mainland

8 months ago

Duration 0:10

The back half of a bus was spotted stuck on a sidewalk on Jan. 11 as snow hit the Lower Mainland, causing delays for commuters.