Snowfall and icy roads are affecting traffic conditions in the Lower Mainland and across B.C. as the province braces itself for more flurries Monday and through the week.
According to TransLink, the icy conditions continue to play havoc with bus services all around Metro Vancouver with widespread delays, diverted buses and longer-than-usual wait times.
In the City of Vancouver, bus delays are occurring particularly in the area around 16th and Oak Street.
SkyTrain is running under its snow plan and operators are watching the guideway intrusion system for any snow-related problems.
HandyDART is running a reduced service with miscellaneous trips cancelled. Only trips for those with renal dialysis, cancer treatment, medical appointments and work will occur.
Murray Wightman, manager of street operations for the City of Vancouver, said as of noon Monday his crew of 20 trucks are in standby mode until an expected afternoon snowfall — which can reach between 5-10 centimetres by Monday night — hits Vancouver.
As of 12:30 p.m. Monday, Vancouver city roads have been cleared, and no major hills closed.
And while Vancouver receives a few hours of respite from the morning snowfall, much of the Fraser Valley continues to be hit hard by flurries early Monday.
Environment Canada meteorologist David Jones says the snow is piling up in Langley and eastward, especially in Abbotsford — which has seen close to 17 cms of the white stuff since Sunday night.
According to DriveBC, Highway 1 is bogged down by compact snow and slippery sections in both directions from Abbotsford to Hope, while limited visibility is hampering Highway 1 drivers from Chilliwack to the east.
On Sunday afternoon, speed and icy road conditions expectedly led to a fatal collision on Hwy 93 in the East Kootenays. A 45-year-old Alberta woman died after colliding with a bus.
The RCMP’s Port Mann Highway patrol is reporting multiple vehicles sliding into ditches along Highway 1 east of the bridge and a semi-truck has rolled over on Highway 1 near Abbotsford.
A snowfall warning continues to be in place for Metro Vancouver, greater Victoria, the Gulf Islands and Fraser Valley, while Arctic outflow warnings persist on the bitterly cold North and Central Coast of B.C.
Wind chill warnings in the Interior from Monday through Tuesday could see wind chill values reach -35 to -40 degrees in places like Prince George and Peace River.
Greater Vancouver has yet to see the worst of Monday’s snowfall, with five to 10 centimetres expected later this afternoon and through the night.
“There may be some flurries leftover in the morning (Tuesday), but tomorrow should be a nice day actually behind all that,” said Jones.
The skies are expected to clear Tuesday and sunshine is in the forecast for what should still be a cold day, with snow expected to stick.
Jones says there is a fifty per cent chance Vancouver will be a winter wonderland Wednesday as a weather system moves to the south of the border.
“If moisture creeps up north over the border over Southern Vancouver Island and Vancouver, we will get hit hard,” he said. “Right now it looks like Seattle is in for it.”