New snowfall warnings issued for B.C.'s South Coast in record-breaking storm

The expected snowfall has prompted schools in the Fraser Valley to close Monday.

List of school closures for Monday continues to grow

CBC News Posted: Feb 05, 2017 5:19 PM EST | Last Updated: February 6, 2017

Snow blanketed Nanaimo, B.C. over the weekend. (CHEK News)

Environment Canada has renewed snowfall warnings for parts of the B.C. South Coast, saying the winter storm is one of the snowiest in decades.

The agencysaid it expects around five to 15 centimetres of fresh powder Sundayfor theFraserValley, the Sunshine Coast and eastern Vancouver Island in British Columbia.

That's on top of the 20 to 40 centimetres that fellin some areas over the weekend.

Abbotsford, B.C. residents took their snowmobile for a spin around the neighbourhood on Sunday. The region saw up to 40 centimetres in 28 hours over the weekend. (Sean Roufosse/YouTube)

#bcstorm #bcsnow #chilliwack my walkway to my front door! Close to 70 cm of snow! pic.twitter.com/vcRwzzw7Po
—@TheDarrenK

A new snowfall high was set at Vancouver's airport Fridaywhen 12 centimetres of fresh powder fell, beating the record of 10.7 centimetres set in 1946.

The weight of the snow causeda large tree to fallon three houses in the 2100 block of East 6th Avenue in Vancouver Sunday. No one was injured.

One home's awning was destroyed when this tree toppled over on Sunday. (Instagram/vancouverisms)

The Alex Fraser Bridge was also closed Sunday afternoon because of the weather, but reopened in just under two hours.

Highway 3 is closed both directions at the B.C./Alberta border due to heavy snowfall and low visibility in Alberta.

According to Drive B.C. eastbound traffic is being held at Sparwood until the highway re-opens, which is not expected until at least 8 a.m. PT on Monday.

In Abbotsford, 20 centimetres fell Saturday, demolishing 1957's tally of 7.6 centimetres.

The City of Abbotsford said in a tweet that 38 centimetres of snow fell in the Fraser Valley community between Friday and Sunday morning, rivalling the 46 centimetres that fell in all of December.

Monday school closures

Several schools in B.C.'s Fraser Valley have cancelled classes Monday.

Meteorologist Jennifer Hay said the eastern part of the region has seenbetween 40 and 60 centimetres of snow since Friday.

"We've been calling this an old fashioned winter because it's not historically really significant," she told CBC News. "But in the last few years of memory, it's like, 'What is going on?'"

Chilliwack, Langley andAbbotsford, Hope, Missionand Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows districtssaid schoolswould be closed to children and staff.