Multiple accidents were reported across B.C.'s Lower Mainland as record-breaking snowfall blanketed the region Friday, including in Abbotsford where a charter plane skidded off the runway at the local airport.
Officials say the Island Express Air flight was carrying 10 people, including two crew members. Two people suffered minor injuries and two others were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to airport general manager Parm Sidhu. The remaining six where physically unharmed.
Police, firefighters and paramedics were on scene and authorities closed off several roads in the area. The Transportation Safety Board said it is sending two investigators to look into the incident.
"It's absolutely fantastic that there were not worse injuries," said Assistant Fire Chief Craig Bird.
The accident comes as Environment Canada cautions drivers that conditions on highways and roads can change rapidly, and they should be extra careful as snow accumulates.
The slippery roads caused traffic problems throughout the region, including at least one serious crash that closed down the Sea to Sky Highway at Culliton Creek Bridge north of Squamish.
A multi-vehicle accident on Kerr Street in South Vancouver caused a pickup truck to roll over.
“Everything bad that could happen is happening today,” said Raymond Poon, a Vancouver resident caught up in the wintry chaos.
“Yeah, it’s been madness,” said Joe Yankanna, another resident. “The main roads are getting salted, but the side streets are pretty bad.”
Between eight and 10 centimetres of snow had accumulated in Vancouver by Friday afternoon, Environment Canada said, breaking the Feb. 23 snowfall record of 4.8 centimetres set back in 1940.
As much as 11 centimetres of snow fell on parts of Richmond during the same time, and the North Shore saw as much as 13 centimetres in some areas.
Vancouver's director of streets, Taryn Scollard, said even the city's own snowplows and salt trucks are getting stuck.
"We do ask those people who don't have appropriate tires to stay off the roads if they can as well as those people that don't have to be out driving if they could stay home as well," she said. "The sooner that we can get plowed, the roads will get back to normal."
Scollard said the Vancouver Police Department has asked the city to shut down several steep hills, including the intersection of Arbutus Street and 33rd Avenue.
The city is urging residents not to remove the barricades crews have set up in these locations.
The provincial government has also said it's prepared to close lanes on the Alex Fraser and Port Mann bridges if necessary.
"Drivers are reminded that temporary lane closures may be in place on both bridges while collars are dropped to clear snow from the cables," the Ministry of Transportation said.
Crews dropped 14 collars on the Alex Fraser Friday afternoon, clearing about five centimetres of snow off the cables.
In a statement, the ministry said it is prepared to do the same on the Port Mann Bridge if necessary.
"Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions," Environment Canada warned. "Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. There may be a significant impact on rush hour traffic in urban areas."
Transit users also experienced delays across the region as a power outage and heavy snowfall affected SkyTrains and bus routes.
Classes at Simon Fraser University were cancelled due to the heavy snowfall. The British Columbia Institute of Technology also shut down its campus at around noon on Friday.
The snow could spell trouble for air travellers as well. Dozens of Air Canada and WestJet flights scheduled to depart Friday from Vancouver International Airport, most bound for areas within B.C., have been cancelled.
Shortly after 11 a.m., Harbour Air also cancelled all of its flights for the remainder of the day as a result of the snow.
"Whenever there is a forecast that calls for significant winter weather, airlines put plans into place to ensure they best manage their network," YVR spokesperson Tess Messmer said in an email. "Passengers should check with their airlines for current flight timing and status before departing home, and should allow ample travel time to the airport."
Environment Canada renewed its snowfall warnings Friday as another blast of winter weather arrived on B.C.'s South Coast.
Much of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley are now forecast to see up to 20 cm of snow by late Friday night, according to the weather agency. Higher elevations near the North shore Mountains could see as much as 25 cm.
"Snow will develop over all areas of the South Coast this morning as a Pacific frontal system approaches from the northwest," Environment Canada said in a warning. "Periods of snow will continue through most of tonight as the associated low pressure system crosses the area."
The warnings apply to Burnaby, New Westminster, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Langley, Richmond, Delta, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford and the Sea to Sky corridor.
Less snow is expected closer to the water, and Environment Canada said those areas could see rainfall mixing with the snow in the afternoon.
For the latest on Environment Canada's snowfall warnings, visit the agency's website.
With files from CTV Vancouver's Nafeesa Karim, Maria Weisgarber and Scott Hurst
