BRACE FOR ANOTHER BLAST

Fresh batch of brutal weather bearing down on B.C.

Don’t let today’s forecast of clear skies in Vancouver fool you.

The snowfall that blanketed much of the Lower Mainland on Monday will most likely be back Wednesday — with a vengeance.

On Monday, flurries abounded in Greater Vancouver, causing transit delays and major road closures, including the closing of the Coquihalla Highway midday and deteriorating road conditions on Highway 1, east of Langley.

The RCMP’S Port Mann Highway patrol reported multiple vehicles sliding into ditches along Hwy. 1 east of the bridge, and a semi-truck rollover near Abbotsford.

Environment Canada meteorologist David Jones says some leftover flurries from Monday night in the Lower Mainland may persist into the morning today, but the skies are expected to clear as the cloud cover heads south.

“If moisture creeps up north over the border, southern Vancouver Island and Vancouver will get hit hard,” Jones said. “Right now it looks like Seattle is in for it.”

The Fraser Valley may not get a reprieve from the white stuff, though, as it appears the snow will continue to fall today in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Hope, which can see between 10 to 20 centimetres.

Nova Scotia transplant Ellen Schaefer, who works at the Royal Canadian Legion in Chilliwack, said it’s business as usual — snow or no snow.

“It’s not stopping people from going out,” Schaefer said defiantly. “There’s cars on the road and businesses are open,” she said.

According to Translink, the icy conditions played havoc with bus services Monday, with widespread delays, diverted buses and longer-than-usual wait times.

Meanwhile, Arctic outflow warnings persist in the bitterly cold north and central coast of b.c. with the wind chill, temperatures could reach -40 C in Prince George and Peace River.

The Ministry of Transportation’s Brian Atkins says a full slate of contractors and equipment will be on the roads plowing, sanding and de-icing where required.

Atkins reminds motorists to drive to the conditions of the road, and to equip their vehicles with snow tires or chains.

Jones recommends preparing for a major snowfall right through Friday.

“This has nothing to do with La Nina,” he said. “This has to do with it just being winter.”

IAN LINDSAY — PNG A man walks briskly across the Granville Street Bridge Monday after winter’s grip left a two- to five-centimetre blanket of snow across Vancouver.

ARLEN REDEKOP — PNG Earl Stade piles up the snowbank as he shovels his driveway Monday near Mt. Lehman Road in Abbotsford.