Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings for parts of Vancouver Island for 10 to 15 centimetres of snow starting late Monday morning.
The warnings are in effect for Greater Victoria, the Malahat Highway from Goldstream to Mill Bay, Duncan to Nanaimo, Nanoose Bay to Fanny Bay and Southern Gulf Islands.
The snowfall is expected to last into Tuesday morning.
“An area of low pressure over the Pacific Ocean will produce an intense band of snow over southern Vancouver Island,” Environment Canada says in a notice on its website. “10 to 15 cm of snow is expected to fall before the band of snow dissipates Tuesday morning.”
Drivers are advised to adjust driving to match the changing road conditions, and Environment Canada is warning that visibility may be suddenly reduced at times due to the heavy snow.
READ MORE: Winter tire requirement for B.C. highways including Malahat now in effect
This latest snowfall warning comes after the weekend’s bout of snow, which many Island regions are still dealing with the effects of.
Tofino briefly implemented water restrictions due to power outages and the failure of two backup generators for the municipality, though the water restrictions lifted at 6:25 p.m. on Feb. 26.
DriveBC is warning of winter driving conditions on the Malahat, including fog and slushy sections.
❄️ TRAVEL ADVISORY IN EFFECT ❄️ #BCHwy1 #Malahat Between Exit 14 and Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd, from #MillBayBC to #LangfordBC. Winter driving conditions. Limited visibility with fog. Limited visibility with snow. Slushy sections. #VanIsle
For more info: https://t.co/Tdj175Bp2F pic.twitter.com/HoRTOC9BsE— DriveBC (@DriveBC) February 27, 2023
Due to the snow, some bus routes are on a detour or cancelled, according to BC Transit.
- R-32 Not servicing Cordova Bay Hill – Routing one direction only Pat Bay – Sayward
- R-35 Cancelled
- R-52 Not servicing Bear Mountain, Cairndale/Stornoway/ No Lagoon – Using Sooke – Metchosin – Wishart
- R-56/57 Not servicing Goldie/Gourman/Treanor/Phelps/Bellamy – Using Millstream roundabout
- R-59/60 Not Servicing Triangle Mountain – Using Latoria – Happy Valley – Sooke Rd in both directions
- R-75 Not servicing Tanner Ridge, Benvenuto, Wallace – Using Keating – West Sannich to regular route
- R-81 Not servicing Wallace, Benvenuto.
- R-85 Not servicing Downey, Madrona, Lands End – Using West Saanich to Wain Road
- R-87 Not servicing Dean Park – Remain on East Saanich
- R-83 Not servicing Beaver Lake or Quayle Roads – Routing via West Saanich to Interurban
The City of Victoria announced warming centres would be opening due to the cold.
From 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. the St. John the Divine Church at 1611 Quadra Street will operate a warming centre.
Salvation Army will operate an overnight shelter at 525 Johnson Street starting at 8 p.m.
.@SalArmyVicARC also will be operating an overnight shelter at 525 Johnson Street from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
— City of Victoria (@CityOfVictoria) February 27, 2023
Laura Brougham
