Season’s first significant snowfall to hit B.C.’s South Coast

Things are about to get very cold across the province’s South Coast and Vancouver Island as a lot of snow is about to start falling.

Depending on your elevation and where you live, you could see quite of bit of snow from Tuesday into Wednesday morning, before things change to rain.

“Snowfall warnings [have been] issued for all of Metro Vancouver. We’re still talking about, generally, 10cm to 20cm of snow for a good chunk of the area. Up against the mountains like Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, we could see a little more than that. If you’re down in Tsawwassen or right along the water in Boundary Bay, it could be lesser amounts like 5cm to 10cm,” explains CityNews Vancouver Meteorologist Michael Kuss.

“Right now, it looks like everyone is going to see snow. Timing, 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., we’ll start to see some light flurries, ramping up through this evening, so if you can, get your day wrapped up a little early and get home and out of the snow.

“The snow will transition to rain, it looks like through the overnight. The system is moving in a little more rapidly and out sooner through the day on Wednesday, and Wednesday is a clean-up day through the afternoon. Bull’s eye time period is between, I would say, 4 p.m. and 4 a.m. — that 12-hour window,” Kuss said.

If you don’t have snow tires or aren’t comfortable driving in snowy, icy, and windy conditions — you’re being warned to stay off the roads.

Darren Ell, the general manager at Mainroad Contracting which is responsible for all the major highways from Aldergrove to 1st Avenue in Vancouver, says crews are already out salting and preparing for what’s to come.

“Once they’re in that mode, they stay patrolling. If the snow starts accumulating, they start plowing it away as soon as it starts hitting the ground and then we put the guys on 12-hour shifts and they just start rotating through and they keep working until the snow stops.”

Once it stops, he says they activate a clean-up mode to ensure all roads are cleared.

Related Video:

“Just make sure if you do go out, your vehicle is ready to go. Make sure it’s full of fuel, it’s ready for winter driving conditions. It’s got adequate snow tires, adequate washer fluid, and just be confident in what you’re doing out there on the highway because [the snow] can come down very quickly.”

Crews in Surrey also say they’re ready to go and have lots of salt, while the City of Port Coquitlam says once the snow starts falling, crews will handle priority routes like main and arterial roads, steep hills, and school zones.

“The city will collect garbage first when the temperatures drop. If roads are hazardous due to snow and ice, the city may temporarily cancel waste collection. Crews will begin collecting waste in missed zones after completing the regularly scheduled zone the next day. It may take several days to complete collection for missed zones,” the city says in a statement.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says a focus this year will be wintry conditions on the Alex Fraser and Port Mann Bridges.

Related Articles:

• Snow incoming for Metro Vancouver, special weather statement issued

• Metro Vancouver shelters open as temperatures drop

• ‘Significant’ snow on the horizon for Metro Vancouver

“Advanced weather data means crews are better prepared to deal with ice and snow and can activate the cable collar systems sooner in bad weather. Changing climate has resulted in more frequent instances of falling ice and snow from bridge cables. The Alex Fraser Bridge opened in 1986. Falling ice and snow was rare for the first 30 years of its operation. Over the past few years, however, it has become a more regular occurrence,” it says in a statement.

“In the years that cable collars have been used, they have been successful in removing most of the snow on the cables. However, some snow may be shed naturally from the cables as the weather warms or if it’s blown off by the wind.”

The province warns if conditions become too dangerous, drivers can expect a partial or full closure of either or both crossings.
Snow has already been falling consistently on out-of-town highways, including the Coquihalla Highway. You have to have winter tires to take those roads, otherwise, you risk being turned around or fined, with penalties starting at $121.

CityNews Vancouver will also post a full list of school closures online. For snow clearing requirements in the Lower Mainland, information can be found here.

Listen live to CityNews 1130 every 10 minutes on the ones for any major traffic updates. You can also follow us on Twitter @CityNewsTraffic or subscribe to breaking news alerts sent directly to your inbox.

–With files from Kareem Gouda