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Updated: Buses cancelled for rest of Tuesday

Here are the snow-related closures we know of Tuesday.

NOTE: This story will change as conditions change throughout the day. Last updated 4:55 p.m.

Highway 101 closed in at least two locations earlier in the day, for trees down near Mercer Road in Pender Harbour and at Trout Lake. While the highway is reportedly clear, RCMP said on Facebook that conditions are not good. 

Social media photos of trees down in Halfmoon Bay and other areas of the Coast are reportedly causing road blockages and power outages. 

Sechelt Inlet Road is closed just north of Porpoise Bay Campsite in both directions for several more hours, RCMP also said on Facebook just before 9:30 a.m. and as of 5 p.m., there were no updates on the Facebook post. 

The public is also reporting that the lower end Pratt Road is an ice rink, with several vehicles going off the road.

The Coast experienced several highway closures on Monday because of transport and other vehicles blocking roads after falling victim to the treacherous conditions. The Sunshine Coast RCMP issued a plea on Facebook Monday asking drivers to refrain from driving if they don't have winter tires. 

Thousands are now without power in Egmont, Pender Harbour, Halfmoon Bay, Sechelt and Roberts Creek according to BC Hydro's outage map, and crews are on-site for the largest outage. "Significant snowfall on the Sunshine Coast has caused several power outages. Access to some areas has been challenging, resulting in delays for crews working to restore power. Additional teams from the Lower Mainland have been dispatched to assist with the restoration efforts. We will provide updates and estimated arrival times on our outage list throughout the day. Thank you for your patience and understanding," said BC Hydro in an update. 

Buses

Buses are suspended for the rest of Tuesday due to unsafe road conditions. An assessment will be made tomorrow morning if Transit service can resume tomorrow and the SCRD will provide updates as soon as they are available.

Recreation

Gibsons and Area Community Centre will open at 3 p.m. but Gibsons Pool will remain closed for the day.

The Sunshine Coast Arena will reopen for ice bookings only but the Sechelt Aquatic Centre is closed for the day. 

The Pender Harbour Aquatic and Fitness Centre will remain closed for the day. 

Tuesday closures

All Sunshine Coast schools and all School District 46 early learning and child care programming (located on district property) are closed Tuesday and all facility rentals are cancelled Tuesday as snow continues to fall into Tuesday. 

Capilano University's kálax-ay | Sunshine Coast campus is also closed. 

The Sechelt Landfill is closed for the day. Gibsons Recycling and GRIPS are closed. 

SCRD utility crews are out checking on water and wastewater plants and infrastructure, shared the SCRD.  

Sechelt and Gibsons municipal halls are also closed Tuesday. Gibsons' scheduled council meeting will go ahead online. 

shishálh Nation offices are also closed. 

An SCRD public hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. has been postponed. More at: https://www.scrd.ca/news/february-4-public-hearing-postponed/

Waste services

Gibsons and Sechelt waste collection are cancelled Tuesday.  

Curbside collection is also cancelled for SCRD Orange and Blue Zones (West Howe Sound, Langdale, mountain side of the highway in Elphinstone and Roberts Creek). Next week, both zones will have both garbage and green bin collection. Not sure what zone you are in? Search your address here: https://www.scrd.ca/curbside-schedule/

Snowfall warning

A snowfall warning that was in effect from Earls Cove to Gibsons, with the total amount of snowfall forecast at 20 to 30 cm, ended about 8:30 a.m. Flurries are expected to ease near midday, said the warning. 

If you're venturing out into the snow (on foot) this evening, bundle up. Winds up to 15 km/hr and a windchill near -9C is expected.

Wednesday, there's a 30 percent chance of flurries in the morning and early afternoon. High is -1C and wind chill -12C in the morning and -3C in the afternoon. 

East Porpoise Bay in Sechelt has had 42cm of snow in total  –– 39.5 cm since 8 a.m. yesterday and there is 35cm on the ground, according to retired meteorologist Louis Legal. 

Do you have snow photos? Send them to [email protected]