Ice is top of mind on Vancouver Island roads as flurries are expected to continue and residents awake to lingering remnants of previous snow.
A low pressure system west of Vancouver Island started dumping bouts of heavy snow over the south coast early Sunday. While snow tapered off Tuesday (Feb. 4) the Malahat had amassed 35 cm of the white stuff while Victoria International airport saw 10 cm of snow, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada data.
The data compiled from Feb. 2 to the morning of Feb. 4, shows the airport in North Saanich amassed the least amount of snow across Vancouver Island.
About 35 cm fell at Nanaimo airport, Shawnigan Lake was 29 cm, north Courtenay 24 cm, Campbell River airport 20 cm, North Cowchan 18, Tofino 16, Qualicum Beach and Comox saw 14 cm.
Flurries remain in the forecast, with a high of 0 C Wednesday and a wind chill of -9 C expected overnight for Greater Victoria. A chance of flurries continues Thursday with a high of 2 C and a low of -4. Things are expected to clear Friday with sunny skies and a high of 3 C and a low of -4 before flurries return on the weekend.
Classes are in session in all Greater Victoria public schools and campuses open at Camosun College and the University of Victoria.
鈥淪tudents and employees are encouraged to allow extra time when commuting, dress warmly and stay on cleared paths,鈥� Camosun said in a statement.
Qualicum School District is open.
"All schools in the Qualicum School District are open today, Wednesday, Feb. 5; however, due to conditions of side roads, buses will NOT be running. As weather and road conditions could vary across the school district, we recommend parents exercise their judgment based on their own local circumstances when making the decision whether to send or drive their children to school."
Victoria opened its warming centre in Cook Street Village at the start of the snow squalls and it remained open as of Tuesday night.
City warming centres open when all other shelters are full, exposure risks are active and there are people in need with nowhere else to seek shelter.
