Freezing rain and heavy rain is creating slick and hazardous conditions across the Lower Mainland Thursday.
Pooling water and flooding along major routes and highways, including Highway 1 through Burnaby and Surrey, is creating dangerous driving conditions.
For the major highways and the mountain passes, further snowfall amounts of 30 to 50 cm are expected today. In the Fraser Canyon, further amounts will range from 10 to 20 cm near Lytton to 40 cm near Boston Bar. Freezing rain will also occur near Hope today.
The major highways from the coast to the interior are currently closed due to safety concerns.
RCMP is warning drivers to slow down and take their time to get to where they’re going today.
Drive BC was urging all drivers to avoid all travel along Highway 1 between Hope and Langely due to extremely dangerous conditions. The advisory has now been lifted but slippery conditions remain. Our Global News Morning live crew were also involved in a crash in Langley – thankfully they are OK.
Drivers are also hydroplaning and slipping off the roads.
While the winter storm warning has ended for Metro Vancouver, a rainfall warning has now been issued.
The weather was also causing some transit delays Thursday morning on the Canada Line. A bus bridge had to be set up between Bridgeport and YVR stations for the morning rush. Service has now resumed.
Check TransLink for the latest updates.
WATCH: Reporter Nadia Stewart is live at Bridgeport Station in Richmond Thursday morning:
Schools have also been closed in the Fraser Valley and on Vancouver Island due to the weather.
Thousands of people are also without power across the Lower Mainland. BC Hydro has crews working to restore power to all customers as quickly as possible.
Weather update
Environment Canada says rain and freezing rain is falling over Vancouver Island, Metro Vancouver the Fraser Valley.
The freezing rain will eventually change to rain today as the temperatures rise.
Areas further north will continue to receive heavy snow along with the risk of freezing rain. Further snowfall accumulations of 10 to 20 cm are expected. However, it is expected to change to rain eventually. Some areas could see rainfall between 20 and 30 mm.
More to come.
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