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Heavier than expected snowfall closed roads and schools and interrupted power for more than 43,000 BC Hydro customers on Vancouver Island Tuesday.
By early afternoon, 28,000 people were still out of power.
"We hope to get most people on tonight. Unfortunately, there may be some areas that may not see their power restored [by then], the more remote areas," said Ted Olynyk, manager of community relations with BC Hydro.
Crews are still assessing the damage to areas like Salt Spring Island and the Gulf Islands, he said.
Environment Canada had lifted the snowfall warning for Vancouver Island by mid-afternoon.
Highway 14 was reopened after a morning shutdown at Kangaroo Road caused by downed power lines, but DriveBC advised snow and slippery sections remained on the road from Sooke as of Tuesday afternoon.
Highway 1 near the Malahat summit, Highway 4 and 4A, Highway 19 and 19A were also described as snowy or slushy with slippery sections.
Two dozen trucks had been out clearing roads since about 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, said Norm Parkes, the executive director of highway operations for the Ministry of Transportation.
He urged drivers to be cautious of black ice and refreezing as the sun goes down and temperatures cool.
"If you don't have good tires, don't go out on the roads," he said.
Report just in from #bchwy4 hump.
"Top of the hump right now. 2 plows ahead of us"
Traffic moving. Looking a lot better (and looks like it is not snowing too hard)#bcstorm #bcsnow pic.twitter.com/1x9LXwRXJF — @chrisalecanada
Armel Castellan, Environment Canada meteorologist, said heavier than expected total snow accumulations prompted the weather service to boost the Vancouver Island snowfall forecast to a total of 20 to 25 cm by this evening for higher elevations on east Vancouver Island.
"It's already a mess," Castellan told On the Island 's Khalil Akhtar in the morning.
Castellan said areas near sea are expected to experience rain rather than snow, until Thursday.
Car in ditch near Whiskey Creek. Drive carefully out there. Checked on them, they are Ok. Tow truck coming. #bchwy4 @DriveBC_VI #bcstorm pic.twitter.com/7DGABfEPqK — @alberniweather
"It's going to be one of those cases where elevation's a key variable," Castellan said. "Fifty metres up from sea level …can make the difference between snow and rain."
He said temperatures are forecast to drop slightly through Tuesday, then fluctuate just above and below freezing until Thursday.
10cm and still snowing heavily in #Parksville. #Bcstorm pic.twitter.com/MWxj8eBhRv — @ParksvilleWX
On Thursday "a large-scale omega block" is expected to bring clear skies and even lower temperatures through Dec. 25, Castellan said.
Blocks in meteorology are large-scale patterns in the atmospheric pressure field that are nearly stationary.
'White Christmas' likely
He said a phenomenon known as the "lake effect" or "sea effect" is expected to occur, with strong easterly winds picking up moisture over Georgia Strait and dumping it in the form of snow on locations near the water.
Meanwhile, people hoping for the traditional white Christmas could be in luck.
"Anybody who has snow now and certainly this afternoon has a very high chance of seeing a white Christmas by the 25th," Castellan said.
With files from On The Island, All Points West and Deborah Wilson.
A green Christmas was predicted for Victoria and Vancouver, but much of British Columbia is already seeing snow for the holidays — and today Environment Canada reported a forecast shift that may cover Metro Vancouver in white.
Higher elevations on Vancouver Island — and even parts of Victoria — are already seeing light flurries.
As temperatures drop over the next week, spots that get a dump snow will probably see it stick around until Dec. 25.
Much of the B.C. Interior is expecting heavy snow over the next few days as the weather turns more wintry province-wide. And now Metro Vancouver residents can expect 10 to 15 centimetres of the festive white stuff.
Rain is turning to snow in higher elevations in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley, and is expected to transform into snow over many parts of the mainland and South Coast, according to Environment Canada.
While rain is predicted at sea level in some coastal spots there will be 10 to 15 centimetres of snowfall at higher spots on Vancouver Island on the Malahat, in parts of Duncan, Nanaimo, Nanoose and Fanny Bay and near Lake Cowichan.
At higher elevations there could be as much as 15 centimetres of snow in these areas.
White Rock, South East Surrey and Langley may get up to 10 centimetres by this evening, with higher elevations of Metro Vancouver seeing up to 4 centimetres.
An Arctic Front is forecast for the remainder of the week bringing temperatures as low as –3 C to –10 C overnight.
More snow for B.C. Interior
In the interior of the province, especially around Boundary, West Kootenay and Elk Valley, snow is expected to be heavy by late morning today, tapering off over Wednesday.
Up to 25 centimetres of snow is expected from Highway 3 to Grand Forks.
Even greater accumulations, from 20 to 45 centimetres are expected in Trail, Castlegar, the Kootenay Pass, Elk Valley, Fernie, Elko ,Sparwood and Nicola and the Central Okanagan and Kelowna.
Environment Canada urges people to avoid travel until conditions improve and watch for road closures.
There's a special storm warning for drivers on the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt and Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton via Allison Pass, where up to 40 centimetres of snow is expected.
At the peak of this storm up to five centimetres of snowfall per hour is possible, according to Environment Canada.
15 Dec 15 December Average high 6.1° C 43.0° F Average low 0.7° C 33.3° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 13.3° C 55.9° F
1962 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -12.8° C 9.0° F
1964 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 53.8 mm 2.12 inches
1973 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 53.8 mm 2.12 inches
1973 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 1.0 cm 0.39 inches
1955 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 18.0 cm 7.09 inches
1971 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
16 Dec 16 December Average high 6.1° C 43.0° F Average low 0.7° C 33.3° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 13.3° C 55.9° F
1976 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -16.7° C 1.9° F
1964 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 45.5 mm 1.79 inches
1972 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 45.5 mm 1.79 inches
1972 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 11.0 cm 4.33 inches
2000 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 18.0 cm 7.09 inches
1971 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
17 Dec 17 December Average high 6.0° C 42.8° F Average low 0.6° C 33.1° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 11.3° C 52.3° F
1994 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -13.9° C 7.0° F
1964 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 87.5 mm 3.44 inches
1979 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 87.5 mm 3.44 inches
1979 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 6.4 cm 2.52 inches
1951 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 10.0 cm 3.94 inches
1975 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
18 Dec 18 December Average high 6.0° C 42.8° F Average low 0.6° C 33.1° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 11.9° C 53.4° F
1979 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -8.7° C 16.3° F
2008 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 28.4 mm 1.12 inches
1960 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 28.4 mm 1.12 inches
1960 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 14.5 cm 5.71 inches
1948 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 10.0 cm 3.94 inches
1975 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
19 Dec 19 December Average high 5.9° C 42.6° F Average low 0.5° C 32.9° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 12.0° C 53.6° F
1995 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -10.9° C 12.4° F
2008 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 43.8 mm 1.72 inches
2012 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 41.1 mm 1.62 inches
1953 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 19.8 cm 7.8 inches
2012 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 18.0 cm 7.09 inches
1964 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
20 Dec 20 December Average high 5.9° C 42.6° F Average low 0.5° C 32.9° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 12.3° C 54.1° F
2005 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -15.2° C 4.6° F
2008 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 24.2 mm 0.95 inches
2009 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 24.2 mm 0.95 inches
2009 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 13.0 cm 5.12 inches
1984 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 25.0 cm 9.84 inches
1964 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
21 Dec 21 December Average high 5.8° C 42.4° F Average low 0.5° C 32.9° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 13.9° C 57.0° F
1940 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -11.8° C 10.8° F
1990 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 50.8 mm 2.0 inches
1986 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 50.8 mm 2.0 inches
1986 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 22.4 cm 8.82 inches
2008 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 23.0 cm 9.06 inches
1964 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
22 Dec 22 December Average high 5.8° C 42.4° F Average low 0.5° C 32.9° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 13.5° C 56.3° F
2005 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -11.5° C 11.3° F
1983 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 30.5 mm 1.2 inches
1947 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 30.5 mm 1.2 inches
1947 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 25.7 cm 10.12 inches
1968 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 33.0 cm 12.99 inches
1964 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
23 Dec 23 December Average high 5.8° C 42.4° F Average low 0.4° C 32.7° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 11.9° C 53.4° F
2005 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -13.2° C 8.2° F
1983 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 53.1 mm 2.09 inches
1963 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 53.1 mm 2.09 inches
1963 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 15.3 cm 6.02 inches
1996 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 36.0 cm 14.17 inches
1964 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
24 Dec 24 December Average high 5.8° C 42.4° F Average low 0.4° C 32.7° F Highest temperature (1937-2012) 14.1° C 57.4° F
2005 Lowest temperature (1937-2012) -12.8° C 9.0° F
1948 Greatest precipitation (1938-2012) 27.7 mm 1.09 inches
1967 Greatest rainfall (1937-2012) 27.7 mm 1.09 inches
1967 Greatest snowfall (1938-2012) 26.8 cm 10.55 inches
2008 Most snow on the ground (1955-2012) 33.0 cm 12.99 inches
1964 Monthly frequency of precipitation 64 % Note that more recent Averages and Extremes information for this location may be available. Please visit the Historical Climate Data's Almanac Averages and Extremes page.
