Schools close as winter storm warning remains in effect for the Fraser Valley
Travel advisories in effect for highways 1 and 3
A winter storm warning remains in effect for the Fraser Valley, including Chilliwack, Hope and Abbotsford.
Environment Canada said freezing rain and snow are expected to redevelop throughout the region Friday.
The Chilliwack school district said that due to "unsafe weather conditions," all schools are closed for the day.
The University of the Fraser Valley's Abbotsford campus is open, but the campus located in Hope is closed. Students at the Abbotsford campus are being warned that the campus shuttle is running, but may be delayed due to road conditions.
Schools in Hope remain open and bus services are running.
Sprott Shaw College in Chilliwack is also closed today, as well as St. John Brebeuf Secondary School in Abbotsford.
800 tonnes of salt waiting to be distributed on Chilliwack streets. Raining for now but <a href="https://twitter.com/environmentca?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@environmentca</a> says it’s going to be snow or freezing rain this afternoon <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bcstorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#bcstorm</a> <a href="https://t.co/SPuOto01aS">pic.twitter.com/SPuOto01aS</a>
—@MegsBatchelorPreparations underway
Glenn MacPherson, director of operations for the City of Chilliwack, said crews worked overnight on Thursday to clear up to 15 centimetres of snow that fell during the day and into the evening.
"What we're doing in anticipation of the next snowfall which is going to hit, we're spreading salt and sand, and all the crews are still out," he said.
MacPherson said that 20 snowplows are working on Chilliwack roads with additional contractors who have been brought in to deal with the anticipated snow and freezing rain. About 800 tonnes of salt are currently stockpiled.
MacPherson said that whether the snow continues to fall over the weekend, or if turns into rain, it's likely to be a messy weekend for Chilliwack.
"The city's catch basins are completely covered in ice and rain, so over the weekend if we're not dealing with snow and freezing rain, we'll be dealing with localized flooding," he said.
A WINTER STORM WARNING remains in effect for the Fraser Valley from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Abbotsford?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Abbotsford</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HopeBC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HopeBC</a> incl <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Chilliwack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Chilliwack</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MissionBC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MissionBC</a> . A smorgasbord of precip types including snow, freezing rain & freezing drizzle is making for DANGEROUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCstorm?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCstorm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DriveBC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DriveBC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KnowBeforeYouGo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KnowBeforeYouGo</a> <a href="https://t.co/Wk4k9ZRHJg">pic.twitter.com/Wk4k9ZRHJg</a>
—@ECCCWeatherBCTravel advisories for B.C. highways
Travel advisories are also in effect for Highway 7 between Mission and Hope, and for Highway 1 between Abbotsford and Hope.
Environment Canada recommends postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.
A special public avalanche warning has also been issued for B.C.'s Interior ranges.
Driving 30 kilometers per hour out to Chilliwack. Roads conditions deteriorate after Abbotsford heading east on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/highway1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#highway1</a> <a href="https://t.co/G4a5E9EHkt">pic.twitter.com/G4a5E9EHkt</a>
—@MeerakatiWith files from Megan Batchelor