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Storm closures, cancellations piling up
Between 40 and 65 centimetres of snow has fallen in the East Kootenay in the past 48 hours, making for an uncertain Monday morning as closures are starting to pile up.
School buses are not running in School District No. 5. Schools are open but parents are being “strongly recommended” to keep their children at home today. School buses are also grounded in School District No. 6.
St. Mary’s School will be closed today due to the weather.
BC Transit services have been cancelled in Cranbrook.
Due to the hazardous conditions created by the winter snow, the Cranbrook Public Library will remain closed today. It’s online services remain available at www.cranbrookpubliclibrary.ca. “We regret the inconvenience, but people’s safety is our primary concern,” said Ursula Brigl, Chief Librarian.
The City of Cranbrook is putting all its focus on snow removal today, with city garbage collection cancelled.
“Crews are being pulled off garbage collection to assist with snow clearing operations,” reported Chris Zettel, Corporate Communications Officer for the City of Cranbrook.
Public Works will allow for extra bags to be picked up next week due to today’s snow conditions.
“Additionally, every single piece of snow clearing equipment and every available Public Works staff member has been pulled off their regular duties and are working to clear snow. All snow clearing operations are focused on emergency routes only around the hospital, ambulance station and fire department,” Zettel explained.
One flight (No. 8215 – Air Canada) from Vancouver has been cancelled at Canadian Rockies International Airport, while another flight from Calgary (No. 7237 – Air Canada) has been delayed.
Highway 3 remains closed at Crowsnest Pass and Sparwood. It was hoped traffic would move at 9 a.m. but the road is still closed with another update at 10 a.m., according to DriveBC.
Highway 3 is closed in both directions from Elko to 10 km west of Fernie due to a high avalanche hazard.
And Highway 95A is under a travel advisory with heavy snowfall from Kimberley to Wasa Junction (28 km). Travel is not recommended unless necessary.
Lead image: This table (on a deck in Gold Creek, Cranbrook) was bare before snow started falling with a vengeance on Friday, Feb. 3. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photo
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