(Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

Winter storm

Bad weather creating travel head aches

Dec 23, 2022 | 2:57 PM

KAMLOOPS– Highway crews are at work clearing the highway of snow, but some people still aren’t taking the chance to drive back home right now.

“It’s going to be a rough 24 hours, I think is the best way to put it,” Brian Proctor, an Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist explained.

“The Hope down to Langley section is a mess, we are seeing an awful lot of freezing rain out there right now.”

But with extreme weather conditions still impacting Vancouver International Airport, flying to the coast still isn’t an option for many.

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“Actually, we were commenting this morning this was almost like covid all over again with Christmas time and no passengers in the terminal,” Ed Ratuski, manager of the Kamloops Airport told CFJC News.

WestJet announced Friday they would be cancelling all flights arriving and departing from Vancouver, Abbotsford, Victoria, Nanaimo and Comox and offered all travellers the option to preemptively cancel their trips scheduled until boxing day with a full refund.

But the lack of flights has meant even more traffic for Ebus .

“Today will certainly surpass what we did yesterday. The highway, the highway conditions and the second largest airport in the country closing down has certainly impacted our rider levels but we can only do so much.” Ebus BC Operations Manager Glen Desjardine said.

For those who still need to use the highway this weekend, Environment Canada suggests taking extra precautions to be prepared in case of emergency.

“One of the key things, if people do have to get out and about in these sort of weather conditions, is to just make sure you have sort of an emergency safety kit with you in your vehicle,” Proctor said.

“Because if you do get stuck it could take people a while to get to you and give you a hand.”