A powerful winter storm has forced school closures across Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, as bone-chilling temperatures plunge as low as -39°C in parts of British Columbia.
Schools in North Vancouver, West Vancouver, and Greater Victoria are among those shut due to the severe weather. Several post-secondary institutions, including the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, and the University of Victoria, have also canceled numerous on-campus classes.
In B.C.’s Interior and northern regions, temperatures have plummeted below -30°C, prompting extreme cold and arctic outflow warnings. Dawson Creek recorded a staggering -39°C on Tuesday morning.
Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings for the Sunshine Coast, the Southern Gulf Islands, and East Vancouver Island, as an arctic air mass moves over the North and Central coasts.
BC Highway Patrol is urging commuters to reconsider travel plans, as multiple collisions on Highway 1 near the Port Mann Bridge are causing major delays. Meanwhile, TransLink advises travelers to allow extra time for their commutes due to hazardous road conditions.
