Extreme cold hits B.C.'s South Coast, with temperatures feeling as low as –25 C with wind chill
More travel disruption as ferry sailings cancelled, Hwy 5 closed amid Arctic outflow winds
Extreme cold continued to settle over parts of the province's South Coast on Wednesday, on the heels of heavy snow that grounded flights, jammed roads and delayed ferries.
B.C. Ferries cancelled two Thursday morning sailings connecting Metro Vancouver and Nanaimo, with both the 5:15 a.m. sailing from Tsawwassen to Duke Point and a 7:45 a.m. sailing from Duke Point to Tsawwassen called off due to the buildup of ice and snow on vehicle decks.
Travellers can use the route between Horseshoe Bay and Departure Bay as an alternative, B.C. Ferries said.
Environment Canada warned bitterly cold temperatures and strong winds could make it feel between –20 C and –25 C in Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands on Wednesday, and closer to –30 C in the Fraser Valley.
The weather agency said a "significant winter storm" is expected to hit the region Thursday night, leading to challenging travel conditions.
The South Coast could see 10 to 20 centimetres of snowfall from Thursday night to Saturday, and heavy snow could be followed by freezing rain.
The frigid conditions are continuing to cause travel chaos across the region, especially at Vancouver International Airport, where dozens of flights have been cancelled again on Wednesday.
B.C.'s Transportation Ministry closed part of Highway 5 between Othello, just east of Hope and Merritt due to wintry conditions.
The ministry says high Arctic outflow winds are blowing away the sand that has been put down for traction. The section will stay closed until the winds ease and contractors can get the road ready for drivers.
Early Wednesday sailing cancellations
B.C. Ferries had cancelled a number of sailings earlier Wednesday because pipes were bursting and equipment on the boats were freezing, including the throttle on a rescue boat.
"We do need that piece of equipment to sail in the unlikely event of an emergency," B.C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall told CBC News.
Marshall said the heavy snowfall overnight on Monday and into Tuesday morning affected 13 routes in Nanaimo and south of Nanaimo, causing about 100 ferry cancellations.
"Our crew were not able to get to the terminals in many instances due to the heavy snow on the roads and the fact that they hadn't been plowed," she added.
WATCH | B.C. Ferries passengers talk about their delays:
Travellers who were waiting over two hours at the port to get on the ferry Wednesday morning said they had expected delays.
"You kind of expect it on days with this much snow … it's part of the travel day, so we're expecting delays everywhere we go," said Kevin Bradshaw of Ucluelet, B.C., who is returning home with his family.
Arlene King, another passenger who is visiting family in Duke Point, the extreme southeastern part of Nanaimo, said she was a bit disappointed by the delay, but it's understandable given the severe weather.
"I think we all have to be patient at this time of the year. Everyone's doing their best."
The ferry operator advised passengers to check the B.C. Ferries website before heading to the terminals as more cancellations could happen.
TransLink also warned of transit delays Wednesday in Metro Vancouver, with SkyTrain running a reduced service and buses taking it slow on slippery roads.
It said unnecessary travel should be avoided.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RiderAlert?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RiderAlert</a> Due to below freezing temperatures, which may impact SkyTrain overnight, customers should prepare for potential delays and reduced services tomorrow morning. ^dd
—@TransLink
Drivers were encouraged to consult the DriveBC website or visit its Twitter page for updates on road conditions, closures and reports about crashes or other incidents. Those without winter tires on their vehicles were being urged to stay at home or take transit.
Northern, Interior B.C. dangerously frigid
Winter weather warnings covered most of B.C. on Wednesday, as temperatures dipped even lower in the Interior, the north and southeast. Environment Canada said many areas could see temperatures sink to –25 C or –30 C but will feel as cold as –40 C with wind chill.
On the central and north coasts, Arctic outflow winds were expected to reach up to 100 km/h.
"There's always the risk of frostbite, especially when he gets down below –20 C," said Environment Canada meteorologist Greg Walters. "The main thing is to dress as warm as you can, certainly cover your face if you have a balaclava, and just really try and limit exposure to outdoor conditions."
Walters said temperatures will start to warm on Friday, though not by much.
"It's still going to be cold but the real, extreme cold conditions that are being experienced by almost all the Interior regions will get certainly milder," he said.
Minimum daily temperature records were broken in parts of B.C. on Tuesday, Environment Canada said, with the Dease Lake area hitting a new low of –43.1 C. Fort St. John and Fort Nelson also broke daily records at –41 C and –40.8 C, respectively.
Extreme cold has gripped much of western and central Canada, with warnings in effect for most of B.C. and Alberta, as well as parts of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Yukon.
WATCH | Southern B.C. blanketed with heavy snow, residents asked to stay home:
With files from The Canadian Press