Commuters warned to prepare for frigid winds, slippery conditions in B.C. Friday; some areas to get more snow
CBC
Special weather warnings are in effect as Arctic air and freezing winds sweep across the province, and although the heavy snowfall warning has been lifted for most regions, British Columbians are being encouraged to prepare for their commute on Friday afternoon.
A snowfall warning remains in effect for east and south Vancouver Island, with five to 15 centimetres of heavy wet snow expected during the afternoon rush-hour commute.
In Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound and on the Sunshine Coast, Environment Canada expects another round of snow on Friday afternoon through evening, in addition to slippery conditions.
Meanwhile, a series of Arctic outflow and extreme cold warnings have been issued for the north and central coasts, the Peace region and East Kootenay, with windchill values expected to remain near -20 C through Saturday morning.
"Anyone who is not dressed warmly is at risk of frostbite and hypothermia in cold weather," the agency said. "Be prepared for unusually cold temperatures and strong winds."
A wind warning is in place for the Greater Victoria region, as strong southeast winds ranging from 70-90 km/h develop across the eastern entrance of Juan de Fuca Strait and southern sections of Haro Strait.
Although another wintry weather system is expected in the area Friday, experts don't expect it will be as severe as the storm that paralyzed transportation on Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.
"Confidence in this [Friday] event is low to moderate," Environment Canada said.
Meteorologists expect the chilly and icy conditions to last through the weekend.
WATCH | Travel chaos as snow blankets B.C.'s South Coast:
The B.C. Transportation Ministry says road maintenance contractors on the Lower Mainland are preparing for snowfall during the Friday afternoon commute, as sub-zero temperatures begin to rise.
Crews will be out in full force, treating roads with brine in advance of any precipitation and will be ready to manage accumulations of snow, according to the ministry.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, stay off the road if weather conditions worsen, and ensure their vehicles are properly equipped with snow tires.
British Columbia's auto insurer, ICBC, says the number of accident claims made on Tuesday was nearly double that of the same day the week before.
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