Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for most of south coast of British Columbia, saying that the region could be hit by up to 20 centimetres of snow by Sunday, making travelling on roads and highways a treacherous exercise.
Southwestern B.C. residents are being to told to brace for very strong winds and blizzard-like conditions in some areas as a storm is reaches Vancouver Island by Saturday afternoon before moving to the Sunshine Coast and the Lower Mainland by early Sunday.
Areas subject to the strongest onshore southeasterly and easterly winds such as the east coast of Vancouver Island are at greatest risk of heavy snow.
Albion Ferry service cancelled until further notice
The Queen Charlotte Islands are also forecast to receive up to 15 centimetres of snow as outflow winds pick up moisture over Hecate strait.
Very strong winds will also develop as the storm approaches creating blowing snow and blizzard-like conditions in some areas.
Easterly winds up to 90 kilometres per hour are expected to create blizzard conditions over northern Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley tonight.
As drivers are warned to prepare for treacherous conditions on roads and highways, unmanageble ice on the Fraser River has prompted the cancellation of the Albion Ferry service between Maple Ridge and Langley until further notice.
"There will probably be snow drifts which you dont' see in Vancouver very often, so it looks like [Saturday night and Sunday] weather will be quite severe,'' said Meterologist Greg Pearce.
While the ice may be tempting for some, emergency workers are warning people to stay off frozen lakes. A man skating at Deer Lake in Burnaby, B.C. plunged through the ice on Saturday. Luckily he managed to get to shore on his own, but was obviously very cold.
With a report by CTV British Columbia's Carrie Stefanson
