Dangerous travel mixed with winter fun as southwest B.C. experiences 2nd snow day in a row

Snow and freezing rain forecasts across southwestern British Columbiahave caused a second day of school closures and travel delays in both the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.

All school districts in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley cancelled classes early Thursday, and in-person classes were also cancelled at theUniversity of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, BCIT and Capilano University.

Schools were open on Vancouver Island Thursday morning but by the afternoon worsening weather had led to the cancellationof several school bus pickups and after-school events.

Parents have been told to check with their local school districts for details.

Kids, adults make winter fun

Making the best of the situation, manychildrenand adults have hit the outdoors, skiing and sledding in local parks in the rare winter weather. In East Vancouver's Strathcona neighbourhood, dozens of residents gathered for an impromptu snowball fight Wednesday night.

"Families, kids, dogs, everyone's running around and having fun," said participant Coltild Orozco.

WATCH | Vancouver neighbourhood organizes glowstick snowball fight:

Vancouver residents gather for impromptu snowball fight

8 months ago

Duration 1:00

A foot of snow, a Facebook post, and a local park: that's all you need to get people together in East Vancouver's Strathcona neighbourhood for an impromptu snowball fight. Residents of all ages gathered Wednesday night for what they called the Unofficial Annual Neighbourhood Glowstick Snowball Fight at MacLean Park, donning glow sticks for some fun in the snow.

According to Environment Canada, preliminary figures show 27.2centimetres of snow had fallen at the Vancouver airport by Thursday morning, with more than 30 centimetres observed by weather watchers in other parts of the Lower Mainland.

In Metro Vancouver, snow started falling again around noon. The amount of snow that fell overnight on Wednesday would mean it was Vancouver's snowiest day since Dec. 29, 1996, when the city's airport recorded 40.9 cm.

It would also be one of Vancouver's top 10 snowiest days on record, according to CBC weather specialist Darius Mahdavi.

WATCH | Even as people frolic, snow and freezing rain pose problem for commuters:

B.C. snow expected to turn into freezing rain

8 months ago

Duration 2:07

While people in B.C. enjoy the record snowfall, more snow and then freezing rain is on the way for the province's south coast. Police confirm a pedestrian was killed when hit by a snow plow in Abbotsford.

Dangerous driving conditions

There are also dangers associated with the weather, a fact underlined bythe death of a 31-year-old man in Abbotsford early Thursday morning after he was struck by a snowplow while walking along a road parallel to the Trans-Canada Highway.

Const. Scott McClure said visibility was poor when the incident occurredand a recent dump of snow had forced pedestrians off sidewalks and shoulders onto roads.

People who use mobility aids are also experiencing challenges navigating uncleared sidewalks. Tanelle Bolt, a design and accessibility consultant based in Langford, said snow from streets and driveways is often plowed onto sidewalks and curbs, making navigation nearly impossible.

"I see it every single time it snows," she said. "It's not understood [by the wider community]."

WATCH | Accessibility consultant on mobility challenges after the snow:

How are snow and ice on sidewalks affecting people with mobility challenges in southwest B.C.?

8 months ago

Duration 2:09

Tanelle Bolt, a design and accessibility consultant based in Langford, B.C., speaks to BC Today host Michelle Eliot about using her wheelchair on snowy sidewalks and the frustrating challenges it brings.

The province's Ministry of Transportation saidin a releasethatits maintenance contractors werepreparing 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.

"Highways, roads and parking lots will be extremely slippery, and any travel by road should be done with caution," it said.

The ministry also said on its X page for the Lower Mainland area that"rapidly deteriorating conditions" were possible later Thursday. Road and bridge closures could come at"short notice", it warned.

The province said contractors will applybrine and abrasive materials to roadways and clear snow as it accumulates.

"However, 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," itsaid.

Strong outflow winds have also been forecast for Howe Sound, gusting up to 100 km/h,and the Central Coast, where gusts could reach 120 km/h. Southeasterly winds of 90 km/h gusting to 110 km/h are also expected over northern Vancouver Island from Thursday into Friday.

More stories about winter weather across B.C.:

Flights, ferries, transit

B.C. Ferries said Thursday morning that several sailings between Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands and Tsawwassen and the Southern Gulf Islands hadeither been cancelled or delayeddue to adverse weather and unsafe docking conditions. All sailings to and from Galiano Islandwere cancelled Thursday around 2:30 p.m.

Flightschedules could also continue to be affected Thursday, Vancouver International Airport said.

TransLink said Thursday morning its buses and trains across Metro Vancouver were operating reasonably well, andnot having students in school for the day was easing pressure on the system.

Ahead of the evening commute, the transit authority said commuters should build some extra time into their travel plans, as the 60-foot articulated buses on major routes had been replaced with 40-foot regular buses. TransLink says the smaller buses are better able to manoeuvreduring snowfall.

Canada Postcancelled mail delivery in Metro Vancouver on Wednesday but said on Thursday delivery would resume with potential delays due to"ongoing icy conditions."

Meanwhile, extreme cold warnings remain in effect in thePrairies, with wind chill values around 40 C expected in parts ofnorthern Alberta, southern Saskatchewan and southwestern Manitoba.