Vancouver area weather alerts already making for travel cancellations for Northwest travellers for Friday

Today's Air Canada arrival at the Digby Island Airport
may be the last flight we see for a few days, as another 
significant weather event is heading the way of the Lower Mainland

An Environment Canada Winter Storm Warning, that calls for Snow, Frozen Rain and then Rain alone is wreaking havoc on travel plans in and out of one of the most important travel hubs in Western Canada.

As freezing levels rise, heavy snow will become mixed with ice pellets and then change to rain late Friday over most of Vancouver Island, and Friday night to Saturday over the mainland. Snowfall amounts of 10 to 20 cm are expected. Local blowing snow is possible in strong easterly winds resulting in near zero visibilities. 

Furthermore, freezing rain is expected during the transition from snow to rain, which could cause significant impact on road conditions. For inland sections of Vancouver Island, periods of freezing rain could continue into Saturday afternoon.

Such is the concern for the approaching weather on the Lower Mainland that the Provincial Government issued an Information Alert today advising those in the area to cancel or postpone their travel plans from tonight through to Saturday at earliest.

The roads are not the only concern heading into the stormy few days ahead, with airlines that service YVR,  the largest airport in Western Canada cancelling a large number of flights scheduled for Friday.

 

Included on the list those regional flights destined for the NorthWest communities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Smithers, Masset and Sandspit

click above to enlarge

The Airport in Vancouver has only just now started to recover from the impact of the last significant snowfall in the Lower Mainland which took place on Monday and resulted in cancelled flights to the Northwest on Tuesday.

Travellers with plans for the Christmas weekend should contact the airlines to find out what options they may have for you as they look to return to the air following the Friday snow and ice event.

More notes on Air Travel across the Northwest can be explored from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.