Snow jams roads, closes schools

Much of B.C. woke up to a fresh layer of snow this morning, leading to traffic chaos on the roads in Vancouver and Victoria where many drivers were unprepared for the wintry driving conditions.

Traffic in Metro Vancouver was moving slowly on the slippery roads during the morning rush hour, and accidents, closed roads, spun out vehicles and abandoned vehicles were reported on many of the main routes.

Drivers are warned that if they don't have snow tires or chains, they should stay off the roads until they are cleared.

The slippery roads created particular problems for buses that were unable to get up many hills around Metro Vancouver.

"With slippery conditions being reported across the system, please expect that there will be delays with bus service as Transit Operators will be using extra caution," warned the TransLink website.

Vancouver International Airport was reporting a few delays, including regional flights around B.C., and travellers are advised to check the airport website for updates.

Across the province more than 3,500 people were without power as of 3:30 p.m. PT on Friday. B.C. Hydro is urging residents to be prepared for winter storms by having an emergency kit at home, with flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, food and water.

TransLink delays

The following TransLink service interruptions were posted by 11 a.m. PT:

• 004/044/084 Service is routing via 10, Alma, 4 in both directions.
• 016 service terminating at Broadway due to Renfrew impassable south of Grandview.
• There is shuttle service between Renfrew Station and 29th Avenue Station.
• 020 detour. Service is terminating at 54 & Victoria. Shuttle service from 54th to Harrison Loop.
• 22 MacDonald detouring due to an MVA at Knight & 15. Via Knight, Kingsway, Fraser, Broadway, Clark reg rte.
• 027 Service detouring via Rupert, Kingsway, Joyce to Joyce Stn in both directions.
• 230,241 detouring at Lonsdale at 23rd via Hwy 1 on ramp, St Georges, 23 Lonsdale then regular route.
• C1 & C2 service from Kootenay Loop routing via Hastings,Gamma,Albert,Hastings then regular route.
• C15 Deep Cove detouring at Mt Seymour Parkway, Fairway, Dollar, Dollarton Hwy, Mt Seymour Pkwy then regular route.
• C52 Service has been suspended until further notice due to road conditions.
• C64 Willowbrook/ Langley Centre detour onwards via regular route to 66 & 203, 66, Mall Access, regular route, in both directions.

School closures reported

• SFU Burnaby campus closed until 10 a.m.
• All Campbell River District 72 schools.
• All Mission District 75 schools.
• Ecole Deux Rivers, Mission.
• Heritage Park Childcare, Mission.
• Credo Elementary and High School, Langley.
• Fraser Valley Adventist Academy, Langley.
• St. Catherine’s, Langley.
• Kings School, Langley.
• Fraser Valley Adventist Academy, Aldergrove.
• All Montisorri schools in Abbotsford.
• Alberni Valley Schools closed (not entire district so far, just in the valley)
• Little Flower Academy, Vancouver.
• Vancouver College.
• Queen of All Saints, Coquitlam.
• White Rock Christian Academy.
• John Calvin, Chilliwack.
• St. Mary's, Chilliwack.
• Immaculate Heart Montessori, Coquitlam.
• Traditional Learning Academy, Coquitlam.
• Collingwood, West Vancouver.
• École André-Piolat, North Vancouver.

Surrey

• Star of the Sea, Surrey.
• Surrey Muslim.
• Pacific Academy, Surrey,
• St Matthews School, Surrey.
• Regent Christian Academy, Surrey.
• St. Bernadette, Surrey.
• Holy Cross Secondary, Surrey.
• Regent Christian Academy, Surrey.
• Cloverdale Catholic.
• Our Lady of Good Counsel.
• Gabrielle-Roy buses on snow routes

Vancouver

• Talmud Torah School
• Corpus Christi Elementary, Vancouver.
• St. Francis Xavier, Vancouver.
• Little Flower Academy, Vancouver.
• St. Mary's, Vancouver.
• West Coast Catholic, Vancouver.
• York House Elementary, Vancouver.
• St. Anthony of Padua
• Vancouver Christian.
• St, Jude's
• Blessed Sacrament
• Notre Dame Secondary
• Our Lady of Sorrows
• St. Patrick's High School.
• Immaculate Conception