Tuesday January 14, 2020 ~ WEST SHORE [Updated 10:45 pm January 14]
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
There was a light dusting of snowflakes filtering down from the sky during most of Tuesday in the west shore. By 4:30 pm there was a heavier burst of snow in Sooke, beginning to cover once again Highway 14 which had been cleared mid-afternoon.
In light of an Environment Canada weather warning about a large amount of snow coming tonight Tuesday January 14 and lasting into Wednesday morning, several evening meetings around the west shore region were cancelled due to the forecasted onset of 10 to 20 cm of snowfall tonight (Greater Victoria area) and overnight into Wednesday morning. [On the east side of South Vancouver Island there could be up to 30 cm of snow.]
Canadian Parents for French Sooke Chapter (based in Colwood) and the SD62 Board’s Resource Committee (which meets in Langford) had cancelled their meetings by mid-day Tuesday. The Town of View Royal cancelled their 7 pm evening Committee of the Whole meeting.
Camosun College closed early today at 4 pm (although the Fisher Building foyer at Lansdowne and Liz Ashton Campus Centre at Interurban remained open until 5 pm).
Royal Roads University (RRU) announced it will be closed on Wednesday January 15, in anticipation of poor morning weather conditions. Their on-campus Habitat Café will remain open from 7 am to 7 pm for students staying on campus. Crews will be onsite to clear paths and stairways during the closure, said RRU in a release this evening.
Road clearing was top-notch in Colwood today, and good in View Royal. Highway 14 between Langford and Sooke was clear from mid-morning through late afternoon. This morning, some roads in Langford held a heavy slush of snow and sand, still slippery underneath on steeper grades.
Several parking lots around the region had signs warning of slippery surface conditions due to ice. Salt on sidewalks, driveways and parking lots is good for safer walking and driving; apparently pet owners are advised to avoid having dogs walk in the salted ice which when licked off later can be harmful.
One of the safest things to do on roads covered with snow is to slow down, especially if the centre line has been obscured. Then if you do meet with difficulties you are likely more able to control your vehicle. Keep your vehicle windows as clear as possible all the way around the vehicle so you have the best possible visibility. Just in case you get stuck, remember to pack along a shovel, salt, and additional gloves, a blanket (including one of those foil survival blankets), and food as well as water.
Checking for current driving conditions on Drive BC webcam images and other websites with local traffic news are helpful.
To report severe weather, send an email to BCstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #BCStorm .
Schools in SD62 were open today (except Port Renfrew Elementary) though less than full attendance was noted, due to transportation challenges or preferences for some families. School buses were out and about in SD62 on their regular routes except to Finlayson Arm Rd was cancelled. Also, this afternoon Route B6 did not travel on Stewart Mountain or Taylor Way and B9 did not travel Otter Point Road.
The SD62 school district (for schools in Langford, Colwood and Sooke) aims to post their decision on snow days by 6 am on Twitter
@SD62_Sooke and on their website at www.sd62.bc.ca .