B.C. Ferries cancels Friday morning sailings as South Coast braces for snow, wind, freezing rain

Most regions of B.C. are bracing for another winter storm that could bring a triple whammy of snow, wind and freezing rain, prompting a series of warnings for those thinking about travelling for the holiday weekend.

B.C. Ferries has cancelled the first round trips on a number of Friday morning routes, including ones connecting Metro Vancouver to Victoria, Nanaimo, the Sunshine Coast and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning Thursday for Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, the Fraser Valley and Howe Sound and the Sea-to-Sky region. 

The agency said the following weather is possible at different times over the next two days:

• Snow
• Ice pellets
• Freezing rain
• Strong winds
• Extreme cold

"We're going to see some brutal weather coming overnight and Friday," Environment Canada meteorologist Trevor Smith said in an interview.

The province is strongly advising against any form of travel throughout much of B.C. from Thursday night through Saturday, with freezing rain expected to coat the highways in dangerous amounts of ice.

"The ministry may proactively close highways in the interest of safety," read a statement.

"Travellers should expect rapidly deteriorating conditions, consider changing travel plans and be prepared for closures on short notice.

Most of the province remains gripped by extreme cold Thursday, with Environment Canada warning of wind chill values ranging from –20 C in the southwest to –35 C in the southern Interior and Rockies, and down to –40 C in central and northern B.C.

Snowfall starting Thursday night on the South Coast could amount to 10-20 centimetres by Saturday.

Smith said the snow on Thursday will likely be mixed with ice pellets.

Freezing rain will begin as the weather transitions from snow to rain late Friday on Vancouver Island, and on Friday night or Saturday morning on the mainland. 

"There is a very high probability that all roadways in the Lower Mainland will become snow covered this evening, then ice covered throughout the day on Friday. Travel conditions will be treacherous. Highway closures are likely to occur," read a statement from Mainroad, the maintenance company in charge of clearing provincial highways throughout the Lower Mainland.

"The public is advised not to use the roadways on Friday unless for emergency reasons."

How are the roads?

Both the different types of precipitation and strong winds could make travel challenging during this time, Environment Canada says, and could contribute to delays and heavy traffic. 

Rush hour on Thursday afternoon could be particularly slow, it added.

The Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt was closed overnight as high Arctic outflow winds blew away sand that had been put down for traction, B.C.'s Transportation Ministry said.

The highway reopened around 7 a.m. Thursday, DriveBC said.

Highway 3 was also closed in both directions between Manning Park and Princeton due to a vehicle incident Thursday morning, but has since reopened, according to DriveBC. 

What about flights and ferries?

The heavy snow already blanketing much of B.C.'s South Coast prompted Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to temporarily limit arriving international flights.

A statement from the airport said the limit affecting 17 airlines and about 30 flights is set to lift at 5 a.m. PT Friday, but a Wednesday afternoon update from YVR said it has seen an increase in the number of flights arriving and departing as the weather improves.

B.C. Ferries cancelled two Thursday evening sailings — the 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. departures — between Metro Vancouver and Victoria due to poor visibility. 

The ferry operator had cancelled two sailings connecting Metro Vancouver and Nanaimo Thursday morning due to a burst pipe as a result of freezing temperatures. The Queen of New Westminster, which was supposed to operate between Metro Vancouver and Victoria, was sailing in its place on Thursday.

The company has added more than 150 extra sailings between Thursday and Jan. 2 to manage the busy holiday season, with more than 100 of those sailings connecting Vancouver and Victoria. 

However, passengers are warned of a strong possibility of sailing cancellations on all routes until Dec. 24 due to poor weather conditions, including heavy snow, freezing rain and strong winds. Poor road conditions leading to the terminals are also expected to impact operations. 

A number of sailings were cancelled Wednesday because pipes were bursting and equipment on the boats were freezing, including the throttle on a rescue boat.

Passengers are advised to check the B.C. Ferries website before heading to the terminals for the latest sailing and service notices.

What's next for passengers stranded at the airport?

Under new Canadian regulations introduced this fall, airlines must try to rebook cancelled flights within 48 hours.

Even if the cancellations are outside of the company's control — in this case, caused by heavy snowfall — anyone who isn't put on a new flight within two days is entitled to a refund or new travel arrangements at no additional cost.

Find more about next steps here.

What's the difference between ice pellets and freezing rain?

Ice pellets are snowflakes that have melted and subsequently fallen through a freezing layer of air and refrozen before hitting the surface. They usually bounce off the ground, but can make roads dangerously slick.

Freezing rain happens when the layer of freezing air near the ground is so thin that raindrops don't have enough time to freeze entirely before hitting the ground.

Anything the drops hit can be covered by a layer of ice, making it the most treacherous type of winter precipitation for drivers. 

What's causing this storm?

A Pacific frontal system is combining with a cold Arctic air mass over B.C.

The air is so cold that incoming precipitation will fall as snow.

When the freezing level rises, heavy snow will become mixed with ice pellets. This also brings the risk of freezing rain.