Victoria in the Snow: Closures and Cancellations

Greater Victoria is digging out from the largest of this week's snow storms. But another, wetter weather system is about to hit.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Armel Castellan says a much bigger storm is rolling in Wednesday night. This one is coming from the south west and brings warmer air and a lot of moisture. Up Island it could come as more snow, but not in the Victoria area. "It's going to shift to rain for us. The winter wonderland you see now is going to become much heavier soon. All of the moisture that's going to come as rain is not going to be able to go anywhere so localized flooding is going to be a big a concern, as is the weight on structures."

As for the snow that's already on the ground, in some places over 30cm fell Tuesday into Wednesday morning. Public works crews and highway maintenance crews across the region have been plowing, sanding, and salting major routes, but officials are asking people not to drive if that don't have to. Police remind drivers with snow-covered vehicles that you can face a $109 fine for not properly clearing snow from your vehicle, headlights & tail lights. BC Hydro crews dealt with a number of power outages, the biggest on the West Shore in places like Colwood, Langford and Metchosin.

B.C. Ferries Battens down the Boats

With wind gusts from 70 to 90 kilometres an hour expected along with the rain late Wednesday, BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall says the last sailing of the day between Swartz Bay and Tsawwassen will be at 1pm. The last sailing between Tsawassen and Duke Point is at 12:45pm. Sailings to Gulf Islands are also impacted. Salings to and from Sturdies Bay (Galiano Island) have been cancelled for the day.

Marshall says it's too early to tell what conditions will be like on Thursday.

The Extreme Weather Response Plan for Greater Victoria has been activated again today creating 13 shelters across the region for people facing the harsh winter storm

For snow closures, here's a list compiled by the CFAX Newsroom:

All schools in the Sooke & Greater Victoria, and Saanich school districts

UVIC, Royal Roads, and Camosun campuses.

Island Catholic Schools in Victoria / Cathedral School

St. Michaels University School

Glenlyon Norfolk School

Queen Margaret School in Duncan.

Discovery School in Victoria / Lighthouse Christian Academy

CRD waste/Recycling cancelled today. Areas missed will be collected on the next scheduled collection date.

CRD Committee & Commission Meetings / 3 meetings scheduled for today (January 15, 2020) have been cancelled.

The Downtown Y, Westhills Y, Eagle Creek Y Branches and licensed Child Cares

All registered programs are cancelled at Saanich Recreation Centres. Commonwealth Place, Gordon Head and Cedar Hill are closed

Goldstream Food Bank in Langford will not be operating today

All Silver Threads Service centres and programs will not be open today

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