Chionophobia again
So, first thing mentioned at the opening of the evening news - "Vancouver citizens buckle down as they prepare for the first snow of the season." The expanded news item, which came right after the shooting that happened a block away from Benn's workplace today, was all about how Burnaby Mountain got a few centimetres today, and another 3-5 cm is expected for the rest of the region in the next couple of days, followedb y temperatures below 0 degrees. Apparently snow tire and snow shovel sales are skyrocketing, as is the sale of salt. Vancouver city crews have apparently been busy all day sanding the roads in anticipation of the big snow. They had a live newscaster standing downtown, keeping us updated on the snow, which was still rain but could turn to snow AT ANY MOMENT.
Think I'm exaggerating? The online news article is less alarmist, but still, look:
Southern B.C. is being hit with its first major snowfall of the season, ranging from a few centimetres in Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver Island to as much as 20 centimetres in the southern Interior.
The snow caused some traffic problems in the Vancouver area, and Simon Fraser University in Burnaby cancelled examinations set for Friday afternoon because slippery conditions made it virtually impossible for cars and buses to get up the hill that leads to the campus.
The university's main campus is located on Burnaby Mountain, one of the high elevation locations that sees the first snowflakes during winter.
City crews in Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver, have been salting roads all day as the weather was expected to become colder at night, said Lorne Graham, a spokesperson for the city's engineering department.
"The storm hasn't really materialized yet, but they [Environment Canada] are calling for snow later tonight so we're going to have crews on tonight and right through tomorrow," Graham said.
Travellers are being warned to have snow tires on their vehicles with reports of snow on virtually all major highways across the southern parts of the province.
Forecasters expected temperatures to dip further through the evening with rain turning to snow for rush hour in Metro Vancouver.
About 200 homeless people have sought shelter at the First United Church Mission in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
"[There are] lots and lots of people, bringing in their blankets, usually blankets that have been wet and cold from having been outside," Rev. Ric Matthews said Friday.
The current forecast on The Weather Network?
24 Hour Precipitation Outlook
Think I'm exaggerating? The online news article is less alarmist, but still, look:
Southern B.C. is being hit with its first major snowfall of the season, ranging from a few centimetres in Metro Vancouver and southern Vancouver Island to as much as 20 centimetres in the southern Interior.
The snow caused some traffic problems in the Vancouver area, and Simon Fraser University in Burnaby cancelled examinations set for Friday afternoon because slippery conditions made it virtually impossible for cars and buses to get up the hill that leads to the campus.
The university's main campus is located on Burnaby Mountain, one of the high elevation locations that sees the first snowflakes during winter.
City crews in Burnaby, a suburb of Vancouver, have been salting roads all day as the weather was expected to become colder at night, said Lorne Graham, a spokesperson for the city's engineering department.
"The storm hasn't really materialized yet, but they [Environment Canada] are calling for snow later tonight so we're going to have crews on tonight and right through tomorrow," Graham said.
Travellers are being warned to have snow tires on their vehicles with reports of snow on virtually all major highways across the southern parts of the province.
Forecasters expected temperatures to dip further through the evening with rain turning to snow for rush hour in Metro Vancouver.
About 200 homeless people have sought shelter at the First United Church Mission in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
"[There are] lots and lots of people, bringing in their blankets, usually blankets that have been wet and cold from having been outside," Rev. Ric Matthews said Friday.
The current forecast on The Weather Network?
24 Hour Precipitation Outlook
- less than 1 cm of snow from Friday Overnight to Saturday Evening.