Lynn Canyon Park closed, heavy snowfall causes safety issues

The snow may look beautiful, but it is not the time to go for a wintry walk in the forest.

Lynn Canyon Park in North Vancouver is closed Thursday because of ice and wet snow.

“It’s making the trees and the branches really heavy. We just want people to be safe in and around the area. So if they could stay out of the park, that would be great,” said Cassie Allard with the Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre which is also closed, as is the suspension bridge.

Caution: heavy snow is causing branches and trees to break in Lynn Canyon Park. For your own safety, please avoid walking in our forests this morning. pic.twitter.com/xMtzElQxoa

— Ecology Centre (@ecologycentre) January 6, 2022

Allard says signs are up, but some people are still on the trails. She notes they should at least have proper footwear and make sure they can hear what’s happening around them.

“If they are going near forested areas, remember not to wear headphones, so you can hear if branches are coming down, that sort of thing.”

Related articles:

• YVR sees flight delays, cancellations after heavy snowfall

• ‘It was awesome’: Port Coquitlam’s mayor rides along in a snow plow

• Snow-related school closures in Metro Vancouver

CityNews 1130 Meteorologist Michael Kuss says we could see an extended period of freezing rain, which could mean more dangers in the wilderness.

“As the Arctic air remains locked into the surface, warmer air rides overtop. That rain falls into the cold air, and freezes on contact with the ground. That’s freezing rain. It’s falling on a snowy surface — that’s a bit of a benefit but doesn’t really help with trees and branches that will have that ice load on them.”

Snowfall in North Vancouver 7.5cm to 6 AM. Snow mainly done. Rain and freezing rain coming late morning and ramping up this afternoon. #bcstorm ⁦@CityNewsVAN⁩ pic.twitter.com/1s5AkFUYuz

— Michael Kuss (@Kusswx) January 6, 2022

The snow has also been a headache for commuters, and crews have been hard at work across the region.

Both the Port Mann and Alex Fraser bridges could be affected if the wind whips up, according to a statement from the Ministry of Transportation.

“Under normal conditions, the ministry uses a cable-collar system to remove snow that builds up on the cables of the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges so traffic can safely pass. However, high winds can increase the shedding of snow and pose a risk to the rope technicians. This prevents them from deploying the system,” the statement says.