Classes are in but some buses are cancelled Friday (Jan. 12) due to road conditions.
The Sooke School District cancelled routes 10, 11, 15, 18, 19, 21 and 60 and reminded folks to dress warmly and watch for slippery sections.
“Changes in the weather can affect road conditions which can lead to unexpected transportation delays,” SD 62 said in an online statement.
It’s a message reiterated by both the Greater Victoria School District and the Saanich School District, where all schools are open.
READ ALSO: Simple steps for preparedness as extreme weather set to hit Greater Victoria
Royal Roads University campus is also open with road clearing and brining overnight. The school warns icy and slippery sections remain on all roads.
UVic reminded its community to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, dress appropriately and watch the website for updates should the weather worsen.
An Arctic outflow hit the south coast on Thursday and snowfall varied throughout the region overnight with the West Shore seeing accumulation.
READ ALSO: Island drivers urged to prepare for the rain, snow, and fog of winter
Emcon Services, which maintains Highway 14, warned drivers early Friday to watch for vehicles abandoned close to the roadway between Glinz Lake Road and Harbourview Road east of Sooke. Crews have marked the area and reported them to Sooke RCMP.
Saanich has closed the road running through PKOLS (formerly Mount Douglas Park) as the district said the Churchill Drive gate will remain shut until Monday due to the freezing conditions.
The Sooke highway and the Malahat and Duncan to Crofton portions of Highway 1 remain the hardest hit with winter driving conditions. Emcon reminds drivers to expect compact snow, ice and low temperatures.
Arctic air combined with strong outflow winds gusting up to 60 km/h will generate wind chill values of -20 C, according to Environment Canada.
READ ALSO: Snow expected ahead of -20 C wind chill forecast for Greater Victoria
The wind chill is expected to moderate Saturday afternoon but may remain near -10 to -20 through Sunday morning.
Snow could return to the Capital Region, with rain, by Tuesday (Jan. 16).
⚠️ USE CAUTION ⚠️
— Emcon Services Inc. - South Island Division (@EmconSouthVI) January 12, 2024
Abandoned vehicles on #BCHwy14 between Glinz Lake Rd and Harbourview Rd east of #Sooke.
Several vehicles very close to the travel portion of the road.
Our crew has marked the area with cones/warning signs and reported to @SookeRCMP @DriveBC #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/sGAL9FcH0k