Bracing for icy blast

Photo: CTV

Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley are bracing for as much as 15 centimetres of snow today.

Environment Canada issued a winter storm and snowfall warning for the region yesterday. Snow could blanket parts of Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore before the system eases on Thursday.

The weather office says hazardous winter conditions are likely in Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Surrey and Langley.

Victoria, much of Vancouver Island, the Howe Sound, Whistler and Sunshine Coast are also under a special weather statement.

Meanwhile, Arctic outflow winds are creating wind chill values of -25 C around Kitimat and Terrace in northwestern B.C., while forecasters warn the wind chill will make temperatures feel close to -40 C in parts of southeastern B.C.

A news release from the Ministry of Transportation says provincial crews are standing by to ensure highways and bridges around Metro Vancouver are cleared during the storm.

"On the Port Mann Bridge, lane closures are in effect while rope access technicians are busy reloading snow collars to each of the bridge's 288 cables," the release says.

When unleashed, the snow collars slide the length of each cable supporting the bridge, dislodging snow before it can build up into icy chunks that have the potential to shower down on passing vehicles.

The ministry says de-icer is being applied to the crossbeams of the Alex Fraser Bridge to slow snow buildup there, while salt and brine stock piles and snow plows are ready for use as needed.