New snowfall Warnings Issued in Record-breaking Storm, British Columbia’s South Coast
Environment Canada has renewed snowfall warnings for parts of the B.C. South Coast, saying the winter storm is one of the snowiest in decades.
The agency said it expects around five to 15 centimetres of fresh powder Sunday for the Fraser Valley, the Sunshine Coast and eastern Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
That’s on top of the 20 to 40 centimetres that fell in some areas over the weekend.
Abbotsford, B.C. residents took their snowmobile for a spin around the neighbourhood on Sunday. The region saw up to 40 centimetres in 28 hours over the weekend. (Sean Roufosse/YouTube)
#bcstorm #bcsnow #chilliwack my walkway to my front door! Close to 70 cm of snow! pic.twitter.com/vcRwzzw7Po
— Darren Kennedy (@TheDarrenK) February 5, 2017
A new snowfall high was set at Vancouver’s airport Friday when 12 centimetres of fresh powder fell, beating the record of 10.7 centimetres set in 1946.
The weight of the snow caused a large tree to fall on three houses in the 2100 block of East 6th Avenue in Vancouver Sunday. No one was injured.
The Alex Fraser Bridge was also closed Sunday afternoon because of the weather, but reopened in just under two hours.
Highway 3 is closed both directions at the B.C./Alberta border due to heavy snowfall and low visibility in Alberta.
According to Drive B.C. eastbound traffic is being held at Sparwood until the highway re-opens, which is not expected until at least 8 a.m. PT on Monday.
In Abbotsford, 20 centimetres fell Saturday, demolishing 1957’s tally of 7.6 centimetres.
The City of Abbotsford said in a tweet that 38 centimetres of snow fell in the Fraser Valley community between Friday and Sunday morning, rivalling the 46 centimetres that fell in all of December.
Several schools in B.C.’s Fraser Valley have cancelled classes Monday.
Meteorologist Jennifer Hay said the eastern part of the region has seen between 40 and 60 centimetres of snow since Friday.
“We’ve been calling this an old fashioned winter because it’s not historically really significant,” she told CBC News. “But in the last few years of memory, it’s like, ‘What is going on?'”
Chilliwack, Langley and Abbotsford, Hope, Mission and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows districts said schools would be closed to children and staff.
The University of the Fraser Valley also cancelled all classes for Monday.
CBCnews (With files from the Canadian Press)
