By Canadian Press

Snow blankets B.C.’s south coast while freezing conditions raise ice jam concerns

Dec 30, 2021 | 9:08 AM

VANCOUVER — Environment Canada has lifted all but a handful of the warnings that covered British Columbia as frigid arctic air blanketed the province this week.

The chill is hanging on in northwestern and southeastern B.C., while the inner south coast digs out from a dump of snow.

Between 10 and 25 centimetres blanketed Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver Island overnight, creating challenging conditions on roads and bridges throughout those regions and slowing transit services in many areas.

Snowfall warnings were lifted shortly after dawn as the storm eased, but Vancouver International was reporting departure delays to start the day and urged travellers to check with their airline and allow plenty of time to reach the airport.

Sub-zero conditions have created the potential for ice jams on the Similkameen River in southern B.C., about 12 kilometres east of Princeton, and the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen issued an evacuation alert for three properties due to the threat of flooding. 

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A similar warning posted Dec. 25 by the Town of Smithers and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako was rescinded Wednesday as a threat of ice jams on the Bulkley River eased, but town officials say the situation in the northwestern community remains uncertain and will be monitored closely.

Environment Canada is maintaining arctic outflow warnings for the Fraser Valley and inland north and central coasts.

Wind chill values between minus 20 and -30 C are forecast while an extreme cold warning for Yoho and Kootenay parks in southeast B.C. calls for wind chill values below -35 C until the weekend.

The Canadian Press