Snowstorm paralyzes B.C. south coast

VANCOUVER - The first major fall snowstorm to hit British Columbia's south coast paralyzed traffic, cut power to thousands of homes and even affected Vancouver International Airport as a plane skidded off a taxiway.

The fierce storm blanketed Vancouver Island and much of British Columbia's south coast with 10 to 25 centimetres of snow, causing traffic gridlock, power outages and airport delays.

Environment Canada lifted snowfall warnings Wednesday for Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver before dawn, but was predicting up to 10 centimetres more over the Fraser Valley and along the Sea-to-Sky corridor between Squamish and Whistler.

Snowfall warnings for parts of southeastern B.C. remained where another 15 centimetres was forecast, and wind or arctic outflow conditions were also posted for the north and central coasts.

Rising temperatures around Metro Vancouver aided snowmelt, helping crews clear the many buses, trucks and cars stranded overnight by the icy conditions.

BC Hydro says as many as 80,000 customers lost electricity at the height of the storm, which included powerful winds over parts of Vancouver, Southern Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast, some customers were still in the dark Wednesday.

The snow and freezing temperatures turned many Metro Vancouver roads and bridges to sheets of ice, making the Tuesday evening commute an hours-long ordeal.

At Vancouver International Airport, officials are urging patience after an EVA Air flight skidded off a taxiway upon landing Tuesday evening and remains stuck in the grass beside the north runway.

Travel Update: YVR is asking passengers to please plan ahead and arrive at the airport early. Passengers are encouraged to check their flight status on their airline’s website or https://t.co/1FdVwVJYyO, before coming to the airport. https://t.co/kCL4Tmm78D

— YVR (@yvrairport) November 30, 2022

No one was hurt and the passengers were safely removed, but the north runway is closed, causing flight delays and cancellations as all takeoffs and landings shift to the south runway.

Rain had replaced snow across most of the south coast by morning and snowfall warnings have been lifted for Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver as temperatures climb above freezing.

Environment Canada warned that frigid conditions will return overnight, potentially creating more slick conditions.