Posted on: January 5, 2022
Be prepared for heavy snowfall and blowing snow and possibly freezing rain starting Wednesday afternoon into Thursday as a low pressure system approaches the BC coast this evening.
North Vancouver Island, including Port Alice, Port Hardy and Port McNeill, will see snow starting this afternoon and evening with snowfall amounts ranging from 15 to 30 cm by late Thursday. Strong winds will also give occasional blowing snow and cold wind chill values. Extreme winds near inland fjords and inlets could cause tree branches to break and toss loose objects.
Central and East Vancouver Island, Inland Vancouver Island, Greater Victoria, the Gulf Islands, and the Malahat Highway will see up to 15-25cm of snow from Wednesday evening into Thursday. By Thursday morning, snow will change over to rain. During this transition Thursday morning there is a risk of freezing rain for central and east Vancouver Island as well as the Malahat.
West Vancouver Island will see snowfall of up to 10 cm or possibly more inland on Wednesday evening. Rain will begin falling this afternoon, except wet snow further inland and over higher terrain. This evening the rain will turn to snow, heavy at times, even near Tofino at sea level. Snowfall accumulation of 10 cm, or possibly more locally, is expected before the snow changes back to rain again by midnight. Freezing rain is possible near midnight over inland areas during the change.
Be aware of and prepared for difficult travel conditions.
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Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Cold conditions are possible with severe wind chill values.
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Be aware of our Ride-Share Resource and Snow rides available through our Vancouver Island Toyota 4X4 Club
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See Shift Into Winter with DriveBC, and Road Safety at Work
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Make a winter driving emergency kit for your vehicle – visit Transport Canada for more information.
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Take advantage of the free Winter Driving Safety Toolkit & Course from WorkSafeBC to implement a winter driving safety program for your team.
Island Health recognizes that bad weather may delay, or prevent employees from reporting for work. It is expected that employees will make every effort to attend work as scheduled. Employees absent from work as a result of inclement weather or similar uncontrolled circumstances will be considered to be on unpaid leave of absence, or if approved by the Manager, employees may use vacation or overtime. Please familiarize yourself with our Hazardous Weather Policy.
Monitor weather forecasts and warnings closely for updates:
If you have to work outside (from visiting clients to shoveling snow):
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Wear proper fitting, supportive footwear appropriate to the weather, and use extra caution when entering or exiting a vehicle.
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Wear warm head covering.
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Layer clothing to allow sweat to escape and trap heat.
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Protect hands and feet. Wear waterproof boots and always wear gloves or mittens.
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Pace any vigorous work with scheduled breaks away from the cold. Fatigue is a risk factor in the cold.
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Stay hydrated. Limit the amount of coffee or tea and avoid alcohol.
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When possible, heat the working environment. For example, heated shelters help protect construction workers from cold and damp environments.
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See more here: https://www.worksafebc.com/en/health-safety/hazards-exposures/cold-stress
Please see these other resources for work and home: