Photos: Heavy snow hits Western Canada, closes schools and cuts power

Digital Writers
·15 min read

Snow has hit parts of B.C. and Alberta, bringing significant accumulation, air and road delays, several school closures and expansive power outages.

A front from northern B.C. tracked into Alberta Tuesday, hitting Edmonton and continuing south.

In Alberta, Calgary residents woke up to a messy morning commute Wednesday, with 5 cm of snow on the ground by 5 a.m.

RELATED: Flights cancelled, delayed at Vancouver airport due to heavy snowfall

That's following an extended stretch of cold weather in the province.

Meanwhile, in B.C., Wednesday's snowfall totals could vary greatly, depending on the location.

Snow
Snow

As a result of the heavy snow, thousands are in the dark in B.C. At one point, more than 20,000 customers were without electricity during the storm, according to BC Hydro. The numbers may continue to fluctuate.

More snow is expected in B.C. between Thursday and Friday, along with the threat for freezing rain, primarily for coastal communities and areas into the Fraser Valley.

Here's a look at the storm so far, in photos and videos:

Click here to view the video

Mia Gordon: Heavy snow, snowfall, snowstorm, winter. Vancouver British Columbia, Jan. 17, 2024
Mia Gordon: Heavy snow, snowfall, snowstorm, winter. Vancouver British Columbia, Jan. 17, 2024

As of 8 am PST, Vancouver airport was reporting 12 cm of snow. (Photo: Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Mia Gordon/The Weather Network)

Mia Gordon - Heavy Vancouver snow - Jan17 2024
Mia Gordon - Heavy Vancouver snow - Jan17 2024

Snowfall seen in Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday morning. (Photo: Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Mia Gordon/The Weather Network)

Mia Gordon: Vancouver, British Columbia snowfall, snow, snowstorm, winter. Jan 17, 2024 - 2
Mia Gordon: Vancouver, British Columbia snowfall, snow, snowstorm, winter. Jan 17, 2024 - 2

Snowfall seen in Vancouver, B.C. pre-dawn Wednesday morning. (Photo: Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Mia Gordon/The Weather Network)

Mia Gordon: Vancouver, British Columbia snowfall, snow, snowstorm, winter. Jan 17, 2024
Mia Gordon: Vancouver, British Columbia snowfall, snow, snowstorm, winter. Jan 17, 2024

Snowfall seen in Vancouver, B.C. pre-dawn Wednesday morning. (Photo: Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Mia Gordon/The Weather Network)

Mia Gordon - Heavy Vancouver snow - Jan17 2024
Mia Gordon - Heavy Vancouver snow - Jan17 2024

Snowfall seen in Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday morning. (Photo: Vancouver, B.C., Jan. 17, 2024. Credit: Mia Gordon/The Weather Network)

Connor O'Donovan/The Weather Network: Heavy snow in Calgary, Alberta, snowfall, snowstorm Jan. 16, 2024 -
Connor O'Donovan/The Weather Network: Heavy snow in Calgary, Alberta, snowfall, snowstorm Jan. 16, 2024 -

Snowfall began filling Calgary's skyline on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024. (Photo: Connor O'Donovan/The Weather Network)

Connor O'Donovan: Heavy snow in Calgary, snowfall, snowstorm Jan. 16, 2024
Connor O'Donovan: Heavy snow in Calgary, snowfall, snowstorm Jan. 16, 2024

Snow began falling on Tuesday in Calgary. (Photo: Connor O'Donovan/The Weather Network)

Thumbnail courtesy of Mike Hanafin/X.