Wind and snowfall warnings for most of Vancouver Island have been lifted, and B.C. Ferries expects to resume service between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen with the 3 p.m. sailing.
13:12 EnvCanada ended warning #Wind #GonzalesPoint #BCStorm https://t.co/3qcGJD93ei
— GonzalesPoint (@ECAlertBC32) January 10, 2020
B.C. Ferries cancelled several sailings due to high winds, including the 7 a.m. , 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. sailings on the Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route.
Also cancelled are the 6:15 a.m., 8:25 a.m., 10:40 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. sailings on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route and the 5:15 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. sailings on the Tsawwassen-Duke Point route.
Several sailings have also been cancelled on the following routes: Swartz Bay-Southern Gulf Islands, Tsawwassen-Southern Gulf Islands, Comox-Powell River. Details here.
The corporation issued a travel advisory yesterday warning of possible cancellations after consulting with Environment Canada.
Harbour Air cancelled its 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. flights from Victoria to Vancouver this morning. The 9:30 a.m. flight is pending. Call 1-844-243-9669 for updates or go to harbourair.com
Helijet says it is operating this morning with delays.
The Victoria International Airport has a handful of delays with one cancelled West Jet flight that was due to arrive in Victoria from Vancouver at 8:42 a.m.
B.C. Hydro is reporting power outages on the Gulf Islands with more than 1,600 customers without power on Pender Island this morning due to a fallen tree across power lines. More than 800 are without power on Salt Spring Island. The cause of that power outage is under investigation.
More than 4,000 customers are without power around Lake Cowichan.
Crews will be heading to multiple outages in the #LakeCowichan area affecting 4,000 customers. You can find the latest updates on our mobile site as available: https://t.co/ReN9TUK7ua pic.twitter.com/046m4U7113
— BC Hydro (@bchydro) January 10, 2020
An intense Pacific frontal system is also expected to bring variable amounts of snow today.
Snow has already fallen on the Malahat portion of the Trans-Canada Highway this morning. The Malahat is clear but roads off the highway, including South Shawnigan Lake Road, are covered in snow and slush.
Higher elevations are getting anticipated #snow please allow yourself time to arrive at your destinations #safely this morning. @DriveBC for current conditions. Crews are out over the area please allow plow trucks room #lakecowichan #hwy18 #PMR #malahat #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/S5LwwavzJI
— Emcon Services Inc., South Island Division (@EmconSouthVI) January 10, 2020
There is a snowfall warning for the Nanaimo area with accumulations of five to 15 centimetres predicted for East Vancouver Island from Courtenay to Campbell River, Duncan to Nanaimo and Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay.
Bursts of snow will continue throughout the morning but communities near the Strait of Georgia will see rain as the strong winds keep temperatures mild.
Areas inland are forecast to receive five to eight cm of snow by mid-morning, with as much as 15 cm at higher elevations such as Sutton Pass and Port Alberni Summit.
Environment Canada says precipitation will change to rain by mid to late morning.
The Victoria Extreme Weather Protocol was enacted Thursday, to ensure shelter was available to those who needed it, and will be in place again on Friday.
JAN 10 – Victoria EWP has been ACTIVATED. For current shelter information: https://t.co/guS5S6nxv6 #yyjewp #yyj
— Victoria EWP (@Victoria_EWP) January 10, 2020
When in place, the number of emergency-shelter beds and mats increases to 472 from 395.
Regional co-ordinator Jen Wilde said a close eye is being kept an on approaching Arctic flow.
“We saw the tip of it pop [Thursday] morning,” she said. “I wanted to make sure that we were activated ahead of the game.” There’s a chance of snow in the capital region today and Sunday, and into next week. Temperatures are forecast to be as low as -5 C on Monday and Tuesday.
Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist said any snow today would likely be a rain-and-snow mix that falls in the evening and overnight and melts on Saturday. “It’s one of those kind of situations where you could see a skiff of snow, particularly in the higher terrain of the city.”
He said the anticipated Arctic front should be firmly in place by Sunday night. “After that we get into a better chance of flurries,” he said. “That’s not really until the middle of next week.”
Daytime highs of 6 to 8 C are forecast through Sunday. Highs are expected to be around 0 C on Tuesday and Wednesday.
