Canada: Heavy snowstorm in Vancouver, 50 flights canceled

Schools in Vancouver remained closed today and many flights were affected by the bad weather, with forecasters warning that heavy snow and cold winds were imminent in the city on the Pacific coast.

Western Canada experienced a weekend of polar temperatures. After a short break on Monday and Tuesday, with the mercury rising noticeably from the -9 degrees recorded on Sunday, today the weather service is predicting a further drop to -7 degrees Celsius and snow that could reach up to 15 cm.

First biggest snow of the season and everything is now at a standstill 😱😱😱#BCSnow #bcstorm #BCStormWatch #snow #vancouver #MetroVancouver #Canada #hellobc #TrendingNow #trending2024 #trendingvideo pic.twitter.com/a5XuWNzSFS

— Wanderlust RC (@iamraj2904) January 17, 2024

Vancouver International Airport has announced that due to weather conditions and while authorities continue to clear snow and ice from runways, there will be fewer flights today. According to specialist flight tracking website Flightaware, around 50 flights were cancelled.

Another shot of our Rope Access Technicians (also known as RATs in the industry) at the #AlexFraser on #BCHwy91.

Crews are monitoring cables and releasing collars periodically to remove accumulations on cables. Rolling right lane closures all day.

Traffic is slow moving NB. pic.twitter.com/ic3x7gw4Om

— Lower Mainland Dist. (@TranBC_LMD) January 17, 2024

The federal weather service also warned of hazardous weather conditions in the Fraser Valley, about 130 kilometers east of Vancouver, due to the blizzard.

I’ve lived in Canada since 2018, and every year it has snowed in Vancouver. I don’t think folks claiming it doesn’t snow in Vancouver as a reason not to get winter tires really cuts it. #snow #Vancouver #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/SvKbLHBPkL

— Scott Tibballs (@WhiScotty) January 17, 2024