Weather alerts for Vancouver Island prompt campus closures, bus cancellations
Cowichan Valley School District cancelled bus pickup at several schools Thursday afternoon
A new round of winter weather is causing bus cancellations and campus closures on Vancouver Island.
A snowfall warning of up to 10 centimetres is in place for the Greater Victoria region, while further north Environment Canada is warning drivers in Nanaimo and along the Malahat Highway of freezing rain Thursday afternoon turning to snow of up to 20 centimetres overnight.
On Thursday afternoon, the Cowichan Valley School District cancelled bus pickup at several schools due to worsening weather conditions, with parents encouraged to pick up their children as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, North Island College announced the closures of its campuses in Campbell River, the Comox Valley and Port Alberni effective at 4 p.m. Thursday due to snowfall warnings, with all classes — including those held online — cancelled until further notice.
As of 10:15 p.m. PT Thursday, over 7,000 B.C. Hydro customers were without power across the Island primarily due to downed wires.
The Greater Victoria Public Library system shut down at 4 p.m. Thursday due to "inclement weather and road conditions," according to a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
And in Sooke, parents are being warned of potential bus delays, with the school district saying it will make a decision about whether to hold Friday classes by 6:30 a.m.
Several after-school programs and events have also been cancelled around the Island. Parents and guardians are urged to check in with their school for more information.
Classes in several Island school districts were cancelled Wednesday, but resumed Thursday.