Snow covered southwestern British Columbia throughout last night, leading to school closures across the region and difficult travel conditions.

Up to 20 cm of snow is expected to accumulate in some places by Wednesday evening, thanks to a low-pressure system moving in from the Pacific Ocean, according to Environment Canada.

A snowfall warning has been issued for the entire Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Sunshine Coast, and most southern areas of British Columbia.

All school districts in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley announced early on Wednesday that schools would not open their doors.

From snowfall conditions to clearing bridge cables and vehicles sliding on hills, the morning commute along the southern coast started chaotically Wednesday morning. Also, according to Environment Canada, snow depth is expected to reach 20 cm across the area by evening.

However, Greater Victoria and Sooke school districts said all their schools would open on Wednesday.

Classes were canceled in the rest of southern Vancouver Island and across the Sunshine Coast, where parents in other parts of the province are encouraged to check their school’s or district’s website for closure updates.

Most post-secondary institutions, including the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University, also canceled on-campus classes amid snow accumulation in the second winter storm of 2024.

Environment Canada warned that visibility may be limited due to heavy snowfall, making it difficult to travel on roads or even sidewalks.

The meteorological agency issued snowfall warnings in about 40 different areas across the province.

Road conditions

The City of Vancouver encouraged travel only for essential purposes on city roads and advised drivers to use the city’s traffic cameras to check road conditions.