Miserable weather expected for B.C. highways as Family Day long weekend kicks off
Soupy winter weather makes for cancelled sailings, dangerous driving conditions
Mother Nature is delivering a miserable start to a much-anticipated long weekend for many British Columbia families.
B.C. marks Family Day on Monday Feb. 8, but anyone driving to or from the southern Interior may choose to delay the start of their trip until Saturday due to hazardous conditions.
Public Safety Minister Mike Morris urged everyone to drive safely as snowfall warnings are posted for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt and on Highway 3 through the Kootenay Pass.
Up to 20 centimetres of snow was also forecast Friday for inland sections of the north coast, while winds up to 110 kilometres per hour buffeted eastern and northern Vancouver Island and the central coast early Friday.
By mid-afternoon, the snow had yet to hit the Coquihalla, with temperatures on some stretches hovering around five degrees. The roads were clear, and traffic was moving well, but the snowfall warning remains in effect.
Environment Canada is also calling for better weather for return journeys on Monday.
The weather is also affected some ferry schedules, canceling several sailings between Powell River and Comox early Friday morning.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ServiceNotice?src=hash">#ServiceNotice</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Comox?src=hash">#Comox</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PowellRiver?src=hash">#PowellRiver</a> Vessel has canceled sailings due to severe weather. <a href="https://t.co/VK2ywgm5FP">https://t.co/VK2ywgm5FP</a>
—@BCFerries