Snow shuts Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley schools as alerts blanket southern B.C.

All public schools in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley have been closed today, as heavy snow falls across a wide swath of southern British Columbia.

Alert: All VSB schools are closed today due to weather conditions. Check back here for updates. pic.twitter.com/fzd2tKbVJp

— Vancouver School Board (@VSB39) January 17, 2024

Good morning. All schools and sites in our district are closed today (Wednesday, Jan. 17) due to snow. Bus service is also cancelled. Stay safe everyone!#sd36learn #SurreyBC #WhiteRockBC #bced pic.twitter.com/YSUJ6sDOVe

— Surrey Schools (@Surrey_Schools) January 17, 2024

Some universities and colleges in the Lower Mainland have also cancelled in-person classes, including the University of B.C., Simon Fraser University and the B.C. Institute of Technology.

ALERT - All SFU campus activities are cancelled today, January 17, 2024 due to current weather conditions. Buildings remain open on all SFU campuses, but all classes, university services and campus activities are cancelled for the entire day.

Online classes will proceed as…

— Simon Fraser University (@SFU) January 17, 2024

Due to winter conditions across the Lower Mainland, all BCIT campuses are CLOSED on January 17. All in-person classes and exams are cancelled. If your class or work is available online, this closure does not impact you.

For updates, please view https://t.co/JGNIme7GoB pic.twitter.com/jnYSOJqClM

— British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) (@bcit) January 17, 2024

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says an extreme weather alert is in place until Thursday, with extra shelter spaces being opened at 15 warming centres across the city.

🚨 Urgent Weather Update 🚨

An extreme weather alert is in effect till January 18th.

If you find yourself without shelter, we've opened additional spaces and warming centers. Your safety is our top priority – please come inside and stay warm. pic.twitter.com/zsZdrzXpT5

— Mayor Ken Sim (@KenSimCity) January 17, 2024

Environment Canada says up to 20 centimetres is expected by this evening, and a snowfall warning is in place for all of Metro Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast. 

Dozens of snowfall warnings also cover the southern portion of B.C. from the Chilcotin to Creston.

Those warnings carry on into the southwest corner of Alberta, where accumulations of heavy snow from Banff to Milk River could reach 35 centimetres before it tapers off Thursday.

DriveBC, the B.C. Transportation Ministry’s information site, has issued travel advisories for 10 major routes In Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and southern B.C.

“Drivers are advised to stay off the roads unless their vehicle is properly equipped with winter tires,” the alerts say.

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

In the southern Interior, Highway 1 west of Revelstoke is closed in both directions this morning as crews conduct avalanche control work above the route.

Northern Alberta meanwhile remains under an extreme cold warning and temperatures could dip to -40 C through the rest of the week.

Extreme cold is also forecast for southern Ontario with icy conditions expected from Windsor to north of Toronto, as wind chill values fall to -30.