PHOTOS: Hefty snow unleashed on B.C. South Coast, travel hindered
The first major snowfall of the season arrived in full force for British Columbia's Lower Mainland this week.
A low-pressure system interacting with an Arctic outflow was the cause for multiple winter storm and snowfall warnings that were issued across the South Coast on Tuesday. By the early morning hours on Wednesday, between 10-20 cm had been reported across the Lower Mainland, with multiple reports of 15 to 25 cm for eastern Vancouver Island.
Visit our Complete Guide to Winter 2022/23 for an in-depth look at the Winter Forecast, tips to plan for it, and much more!
According to BC Hydro, more than 30,000 customers were left without power Tuesday night as the snow and winds picked up, weighing down trees and ultimately taking out power lines. Strong winds resulted in BC Ferries announcing a number of sailing cancellations Tuesday afternoon, as well.
The system has greatly impacted driving conditions, with motorists urged to expect delays or consider alternate routes. By late Tuesday afternoon, travel advisories were in effect for many of the province's highways. Winter storm warnings were also issued for highway routes including the Sea to Sky, the Coquihalla and the Okanagan Connector, with strong winds and heavy snow creating near-zero visibility at times. The Alex Fraser Bridge was closed in both directions for several hours on Tuesday evening as well.
WATCH: B.C. resident shows highway at a standstill after snowstorm
Snowfall rates will begin to ease from west to east across the southern half of the province through the day on Wednesday, with most of the snow finished by the late afternoon and early evening hours. More snow is forecast Friday into Saturday morning, but accumulations will be minimal in comparison to this most recent blast.
Here's a closer look at the impacts from this first major snowstorm across southern B.C.:
Fulltime RVers here!! Loving the snow!!❄️☃️❄️#BEAUTIFULBC #BCStorm #HarrisonHotSprings pic.twitter.com/fMCPaMVZ3W
Fulltime RVers here!! Loving the snow!!❄️☃️❄️AbbysMom on Twitter: "Fulltime RVers here!! Loving the snow!!❄️☃️❄️#BEAUTIFULBC #BCStorm #HarrisonHotSprings pic.twitter.com/fMCPaMVZ3W / Twitter" AbbysMom on Twitter: "Fulltime RVers here!! Loving the snow!!❄️☃️❄️#BEAUTIFULBC #BCStorm #HarrisonHotSprings pic.twitter.com/fMCPaMVZ3W / Twitter" AbbysMom on Twitter: "Fulltime RVers here!! Loving the snow!!❄️☃️❄️#BEAUTIFULBC #BCStorm #HarrisonHotSprings pic.twitter.com/fMCPaMVZ3W / Twitter" AbbysMom on Twitter: "Fulltime RVers here!! Loving the snow!!❄️☃️❄️#BEAUTIFULBC #BCStorm #HarrisonHotSprings pic.twitter.com/fMCPaMVZ3W / Twitter"
— AbbysMom (@writerof_mylife) AbbysMom on Twitter: "Fulltime RVers here!! Loving the snow!!❄️☃️❄️#BEAUTIFULBC #BCStorm #HarrisonHotSprings pic.twitter.com/fMCPaMVZ3W / Twitter"
This was my view of the Patullo Bridge last night. My commute took almost 9 hours from Burnaby to Delta. Who is responsible for not looking after the roads? There was ice everywhere! #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/KFKdXTE1LC
This was my view of the Patullo Bridge last night. My commute took almost 9 hours from Burnaby to Delta. Who is responsible for not looking after the roads? There was ice everywhere! Petunia McBurp on Twitter: "This was my view of the Patullo Bridge last night. My commute took almost 9 hours from Burnaby to Delta. Who is responsible for not looking after the roads? There was ice everywhere! #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/KFKdXTE1LC / Twitter" Petunia McBurp on Twitter: "This was my view of the Patullo Bridge last night. My commute took almost 9 hours from Burnaby to Delta. Who is responsible for not looking after the roads? There was ice everywhere! #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/KFKdXTE1LC / Twitter"
— Petunia McBurp (@mizzwacky) Petunia McBurp on Twitter: "This was my view of the Patullo Bridge last night. My commute took almost 9 hours from Burnaby to Delta. Who is responsible for not looking after the roads? There was ice everywhere! #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/KFKdXTE1LC / Twitter"
Thank you Andrew for always doing your best to predict the weather!! #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/Kyh7WqQCR6
Thank you Andrew for always doing your best to predict the weather!! Grietha on Twitter: "Thank you Andrew for always doing your best to predict the weather!! #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/Kyh7WqQCR6 / Twitter" Grietha on Twitter: "Thank you Andrew for always doing your best to predict the weather!! #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/Kyh7WqQCR6 / Twitter"
— Grietha (@GvGTech101) Grietha on Twitter: "Thank you Andrew for always doing your best to predict the weather!! #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/Kyh7WqQCR6 / Twitter"
More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk
More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter" footage on Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter" this morning!
Happy to be working from home today. Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter" Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter" Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter" Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter" Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter" Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter" Brad Atchison on Twitter: "More pictures from SFU this morning. Seeing a lot of mine and @RyanVoutilainen footage on @weathernetwork this morning! Happy to be working from home today. @MurphTWN @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan @jwhittalTWN #bcstorm #ShareYourWeather pic.twitter.com/c9dqlgL8fk / Twitter"
What a beast 😈 #tesla #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/oy56cuw7H9
What a beast 😈 AJ Solanki on Twitter: "What a beast 😈 #tesla #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/oy56cuw7H9 / Twitter" AJ Solanki on Twitter: "What a beast 😈 #tesla #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/oy56cuw7H9 / Twitter" AJ Solanki on Twitter: "What a beast 😈 #tesla #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/oy56cuw7H9 / Twitter"
— AJ Solanki (@iamAbhijot) AJ Solanki on Twitter: "What a beast 😈 #tesla #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/oy56cuw7H9 / Twitter"
Only in BC do you shovel snow in a t-shirt and overalls! 😂🤣#BCStorm @MMadryga pic.twitter.com/XBs7RNFGW0
Only in BC do you shovel snow in a t-shirt and overalls! 😂🤣Erin Jensen on Twitter: "Only in BC do you shovel snow in a t-shirt and overalls! 😂🤣#BCStorm @MMadryga pic.twitter.com/XBs7RNFGW0 / Twitter" Erin Jensen on Twitter: "Only in BC do you shovel snow in a t-shirt and overalls! 😂🤣#BCStorm @MMadryga pic.twitter.com/XBs7RNFGW0 / Twitter" Erin Jensen on Twitter: "Only in BC do you shovel snow in a t-shirt and overalls! 😂🤣#BCStorm @MMadryga pic.twitter.com/XBs7RNFGW0 / Twitter"
— Erin Jensen (@cookingmama48) Erin Jensen on Twitter: "Only in BC do you shovel snow in a t-shirt and overalls! 😂🤣#BCStorm @MMadryga pic.twitter.com/XBs7RNFGW0 / Twitter"
A random bus abandoned in the middle of the street on a hill, likely overnight:#BCSnow #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/NcJLURCB8D
A random bus abandoned in the middle of the street on a hill, likely overnight:Nathan Osman on Twitter: "A random bus abandoned in the middle of the street on a hill, likely overnight:#BCSnow #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/NcJLURCB8D / Twitter" Nathan Osman on Twitter: "A random bus abandoned in the middle of the street on a hill, likely overnight:#BCSnow #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/NcJLURCB8D / Twitter" Nathan Osman on Twitter: "A random bus abandoned in the middle of the street on a hill, likely overnight:#BCSnow #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/NcJLURCB8D / Twitter"
— Nathan Osman (@nathanosman_dev) Nathan Osman on Twitter: "A random bus abandoned in the middle of the street on a hill, likely overnight:#BCSnow #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/NcJLURCB8D / Twitter"
Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex
Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in Kyle Marshall on Twitter: "Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex / Twitter" Kyle Marshall on Twitter: "Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex / Twitter" Kyle Marshall on Twitter: "Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex / Twitter" Kyle Marshall on Twitter: "Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex / Twitter" Kyle Marshall on Twitter: "Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex / Twitter" Kyle Marshall on Twitter: "Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex / Twitter" Kyle Marshall on Twitter: "Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex / Twitter"
— Kyle Marshall (@Kylem87) Kyle Marshall on Twitter: "Right as forecast, already at 15cm here in #SurreyBC #BCStorm #BCSnow #ShareYourWeather #snow #snowfall pic.twitter.com/y4Rv86OJex / Twitter"
Update: Heavier snow, same wind. #BCSnow #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/JbkZiRoU3W
— Adam Commandeur (@CommandeurAdam) November 30, 2022
Plows are out in full force across Metro Vancouver. They are going to struggle to keep up tonight. 340pm. #BCStorm @KMacTWN @50ShadesofVan pic.twitter.com/haglBnZQ6n
— Brad Atchison (@Brad604) November 29, 2022
#BCStorm update....yikes #hummingbird is still hungry #BCSnow #CampbellRiver @deanstoltzchek @AlannaKellyNews @Brad604 pic.twitter.com/BNDh5j7f5k
— Jim Rainey (@jrainey5854) November 30, 2022
1-2inches of snow in Surrey. #BCStorm #BCSnow #Surrey pic.twitter.com/LXry4qZt0P
— Abhaysidhu (@Abhaysidhu45) November 30, 2022
Scariest highway cameras of the hour. A live look at Ladysmith & Cook Creek. Obviously, some snow is obstructing the camera, but you get the picture. Snowfall rates are capable of hitting 5 cm/hr this eve. for E. VI. #BCSnow #BCStorm pic.twitter.com/67aOeRQVQl
— Tyler Hamilton (@50ShadesofVan) November 29, 2022
Thumbnail image courtesy: Adam Sobkow, taken in Langford, B.C.