Fears of 'ice bombs' force Alex Fraser closure before rain melts danger

A new cold snap is poised to hit B.C. with drier — even sunny conditions — after Sunday's icy rain turns the snow into slush, and eases fears of falling "ice bombs" on the Alex Fraser Bridge in Metro Vancouver.

B.C.'s winter storm is not over.

Another 30 centimetres of snow is expected to fall in the Fraser Valley, and 20 centimetres on inland Vancouver Island, where some residents are already reporting a foot of the white stuff or 30 centimetres already.

Environment Canada says the snow will ease off late today, followed by a ridge of high pressure bringing drier conditions and colder temperatures next week.

• Freezing rain, more snow heading for Metro Vancouver as deep freeze continues

There is an extreme cold warning from Environment Canada for the Chilcotin region of B.C. where cold arctic air is expected and with windchill it will make it feel closer to minus 40.

High winds are also expected for the North and Central Coast, with 90-kilometre-per hour gusts making the temperature, with wind chill, dip to minus 20 to 25.

In the Yellowhead region, Valemount residents are warned that air quality concerns blamed on "stagnant winter weather conditions" trapping pollution close to the ground, can put people with lung issues at risk.

Winter temperature inversions — when normal atmospheric conditions of cool air above, warm air below become inverted — can trap cold air under a layer of warm air.

The warm layer acts much like a lid, trapping pollutants close to the ground.

'Ice bomb' fears

Fears that "wind blowing melting chunks of ice" would smash onto cars forced the closure of the bridge for the first time in 30 years Saturday.

Executive Director of Highways for B.C. blamed wind, and the lack of "de-icing collars" installed on the Port Mann bridge after ice bombs hit cars in 2012.

"It's because of the wind that they are making it over to the road. Normally they would fall straight down and smash on the cables below them, but the wind is bowing it sideways," said Parkes.

• Alex Fraser bridge could close if storm conditions too severe, officials warn
• Simon Fraser University puts off exams to keep Burnaby students safe

The bridge, shut from 11 a.m PT until 6 p.m PT yesterday has reopened.

A snowfall warning for Metro Vancouver was lifted yesterday, but concerns about road conditions still forced Simon Fraser University to cancel exams at its Burnaby campus.