Slippery roads and bitter cold in parts of B.C. as heavy snow falls on Sunday

UPDATE: Weather warnings cover much of B.C. as bitter cold settles in, more snow approaches

Multiple vehicles spun out on the Trans-Canada Highway in Metro Vancouver as weather warnings for extreme cold, winter storms and snowfall were in place across most of British Columbia Sunday.

It comes after Environment Canada warned of extreme cold, Arctic outflows and snowfall earlier Saturday. On Sunday, social media posts showed dozens of cars and buses struggling with the conditions in Metro Vancouver.

A snowfall warning had been in place for Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley, where around 15 centimetres of snow was expected in the Fraser Valley and up to 10 centimetres for Metro Vancouver by Sunday afternoon.

The Whistler and Sea to Sky regions also dealth with challenging travel conditions due to the snow, with the Sea to Sky Highway and Highway 1 expected to be hit the hardest.

"The ministry's maintenance contractor continues to treat Highway 1 with abrasives," read a statement from the province on Sunday morning. "Drivers with vehicles not properly equipped with winter tires should avoid this section of Highway 1."

Snow caused delays on bus routes throughout Metro Vancouver and TransLink, the regional transportation authority, said it was cancelling non-essential HandyDart service.

The travel chaos comes less than three weeks after a snowstorm brought Metro Vancouver to its knees Nov. 29. The chaos prompted calls for a coordinated regional response from the province and regional governments.

Environment Canada says Sunday's snowfall on the South Coast is due to an Arctic front that is pushing west from the B.C. Interior. Wind chill is expected to make it feel like –20 C in the Fraser Valley.

As of Sunday evening at 2:30 p.m., close to 2,400 B.C. Hydro customers were without power in the Lower Mainland.

Ross McDonald, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, says below-seasonal temperatures will stick around throughout next week, with maximum temperatures in Metro Vancouver "struggling" to break –5 C.

Earlier on Sunday, McDonald says meteorologists observed a phenomenon called "thundersnow" — when an unstable air mass, and the right conditions, caused lightning to come out of clouds and thunder to be heard around Metro Vancouver.

"Quite a unique phenomenon in general, and especially around here [Vancouver] as we don't really see too much in the way of thunderstorms," he told CBC News.

WATCH | How thundersnow forms in the atmosphere: 

What is Thundersnow?

8 years ago

Duration 2:11

What is Thundersnow?

Extreme cold throughout Interior, North

Meanwhile, in central B.C., Environment Canada issued an extreme cold warning for most of the region. The warning covers the Chilcotin, Quesnel, Williams Lake, Prince George, Stuart, and 100 Mile regions.

The forecaster says conditions are expected to last until Wednesday morning at least, due to an Arctic air mass that has settled over the region.

Overnight temperatures will drop to –30 C, with wind gusts of over 40 km/h making it feel like –40.

"Risks are greater for young children, older adults, people with chronic illnesses, people working or exercising outdoors, and those without proper shelter," the warning reads.

"Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions," the forecaster adds, with warnings already in place for winter storms along the recently-repaired Coquihalla Highway. The highway was closed outright on Sunday afternoon due to two incidents in both the northbound and southbound lanes.

In the southern Interior, extreme cold warnings are in place for the Elk Valley and Yoho Park regions, and a snowfall warning has been posted for the West Kootenay region.

Wind chill could make it feel like –35 C overnight near Elk Valley and Yoho Park, which straddle the B.C.-Alberta border.

Arctic outflow warnings remain in place for the Central and North Coasts, including the inland sections. Extreme cold warnings are in place in Muncho Lake Park, Dease Lake, Cassiar Mountains and Watson Lake regions in the far north.

Special weather statements, warning of frostbite risk, cover the Haines Road, Atlin, Teslin, Peace River, Williston and Fort Nelson regions.