Travel advisories issued across southwest B.C. as snow, freezing ...

Weather warnings are in place across southwestern British Columbia on Friday morning as a mix of snow and freezing rain in some areas is expected to make the morning commute difficult.

DriveBC has posted a range of travel advisories for Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley, warning that "rapidly deteriorating road conditions and short notice closures" could come into place due to snow and freezing rain in the area, stretching all the way from Langley to Hope and Lytton.

On Vancouver Island, the province's Ministry of Transportation warns that up to 20 centimetres of snow could fall on the Malahat Highway through Friday morning, and is warning commuters against unnecessary travel in coastal B.C.

Environment Canada issued snowfall and winter storm warnings for much of Vancouver Island Thursday night, warning of snow, gusty winds and a prolonged period of freezing rain to continue through Friday morning.

Early Friday about 20,000 B.C. Hydro customers were without power across the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and the North and South Coast.

Schools across the Fraser Valley, from Langley and Maple Ridge east through Hope, cancelled classes for a third straight day. School districts in Vancouver, Surrey and Burnaby said over social media they were open Friday.

WATCH | Freezing rain expected to result in treacherous driving conditions Friday: 

Freezing rain forecast for parts of B.C., drivers warned of dangerous road conditions

13 hours ago

Duration 3:19

Environment Canada has issued freezing rain warnings for parts of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Following recent snowstorms, the B.C. Automobile Association (BCAA) says morning commuters will likely face a messy morning drive.

A freezing rain warning was also issued for the Fraser Canyon, Coquihalla Highway and Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton. Environment Canada says snow will transition to freezing rain sometime on Friday afternoon.

"For Highway 3 and Manning-Skagit Valley there will be a risk of freezing rain Friday afternoon with more continuous freezing rain expected overnight Friday," reads the warning.

The province said in a Thursday statement that "freezing rain is one of the most difficult weather conditions to effectively manage, and bridges and roads may be closed to traffic in the interest of public safety."

Environment Canada warns that roads and walkways may become slippery or icy due to the prolonged winter conditions, with up to 30 centimetres of snow having fallen in the Lower Mainland overnight on Wednesday.

While many schools in Metro Vancouver were closed Wednesday and Thursday due to snowstorms that hit the region, the University of B.C. tweeted Thursday night that in-person classes would resume Friday.

"Weather conditions are expected to improve overnight," reads a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. "Please commute safely."

Metro Vancouver's transit authority, TransLink, is encouraging commuters to build extra time into their commutes Friday morning due to the anticipated freezing rain.