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Snow day slows down Nanaimo

Classes cancelled, buses detoured, residents urged to avoid driving

The forecasted snow fell on Nanaimo last night and has slowed down the city this morning.

Snow fell in all areas of the city overnight Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 5-6, but Environment Canada now says there will be only trace amounts of snow with rain and patchy freezing rain this morning. The temperature is expected to climb to 3 C and stay there the rest of the night.

The City of Nanaimo sent out a special emergency alert on Thursday morning, and also shared a weather advisory via social media.

“Road conditions this morning are hazardous,” the city noted. “Please stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary to give plows time to clear.”

The city says crews are plowing and salting in order of priority, and ask those drivers who are out and about to slow down, drive with caution, and give plenty of space to other motorists and pedestrians.

Waste collection has been cancelled for Thursday, Jan. 6, and recreation facilities will be closed the rest of the day, the city says.

It’s a snow day in Nanaimo-Ladysmith school district, with schools closed and school buses cancelled. Vancouver Island University has also closed its campus.

RDN Transit is reporting various detours and cancellations; for information, visit www.rdn.bc.ca/adverse-weather-routing. The HandyDART bus will provide only essential rides today.

Even B.C. Ferries has been impacted, as the Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay route is nearly an hour behind schedule due to crew members being delayed by the snow, and a round trip on the Duke Point-Tsawwassen route was cancelled this morning for the same reason.

There is a power outage in the Cedar-Yellow Point-North Oyster with about 1,000 B.C. Hydro customers impacted; for information, visit www.bchydro.com/power-outages/app/outage-map.html.

READ ALSO: Last month was one of the coldest Decembers on record in Nanaimo

READ ALSO: Expect snow, freezing rain on Vancouver Island with latest winter weather warning



editor@nanaimobulletin.com

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