Winter storm, snowfall and wind warnings are in effect across coastal and southern British Columbia, including areas affected by flooding last month.
Greater Victoria, central and eastern sections of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands were expected to see wind speeds up to 60 km/h with gusts up to 90. Port Hardy was forecast to have gusts of up to 110 km/h in exposed coastal areas Friday night.
The Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness issued an extreme-weather alert, with the Salvation Army Addictions and Rehabilitation Centre at 525 Johnson St. making 30 overnight spaces available from 8:30 p.m. Friday to 7:30 a.m. Saturday.
B.C. Ferries cancelled the 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. sailing between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen. The 8:15 p.m. sailing from Duke Point to Tsawwassen and the 10:45 p.m. sailing from Tsawwassen were also cancelled due to adverse weather conditions.
Environment Canada said rain in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley would intensify Friday night before easing, with up to 60 millimetres expected along with strong winds.
Further out the valley, from Hope to Princeton and along the Coquihalla, it predicted snow with accumulations of as much as 30 centimetres, while up to 20 cm is expected to fall through to Saturday in the Sea to Sky region.
In the southeast, 20 to 30 cm of snow was expected along Highway 3 through to the Elk Valley, and up to 25 cm was predicted across inland sections of the north coast, including Stewart and Terrace.
Environment Canada called for heavy rain and “very strong” southwesterly winds with gusts up to 110 km/h for west and north coasts of Vancouver Island and the central coast.
The B.C. government issued a warning Thursday saying “severe winter weather” could bring significant rain, snow and heightened avalanche risks.
A warning is also in effect for Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton, where 20 to 30 cm of snow was expected to fall between Friday and Saturday.
Highway 3 is open only to essential travel and is the main link between the Lower Mainland and Interior as repairs to other routes continue.
The Coquihalla remains closed after severe flooding and landslides last month, although Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said Thursday it could reopen by early January.
