Thursday, March 29, 2007

37 centimetres and counting?

While most parts of the city probably don't have quite that much, the CBC website is reporting that some parts of the Prince Rupert area (Summit Ave perhaps??), received up to 37 centimetres of snow in the last 24 hours, with weather warnings issued of more snow to come!

Power outages are reported in parts of the city with some 1,000 businesses and residences without power, cablevision reception is out in some places, most streets are clogged with snow and the highway between Rupert and Terrace has been closed, due to a high avalanche risk in a number of areas.

All radio stations with the exception of the CBC were knocked off the air, leaving the public broadcaster as the only link for immediate information in the city.

School kids get a break from their studies as public and private elementary schools, the two high schools and the community college all stayed closed this morning. With cryptic threats to open this afternoon, we somehow suspect that attendance will be low to say the least.

If you're a hardware store, today is the day that the last of that snow shovel and ice blast
inventory will find welcome buyers, providing they can make it to your store.


Snow storm buffets northwestern B.C.
Last Updated: Thursday, March 29, 2007 9:26 AM PT
CBC News

A blast of winter weather has hammered a wide area of northwestern B.C., knocking out power to thousands and shutting down highways in the region.

The overnight snowstorm dumped up to 37 cm of snow in some parts of the Prince Rupert area.
Schools and the college in Prince Rupert are closed Thursday, and about 1,000 homes and businesses in the port city are without power.

B.C. Hydro says another 500 customers in the Terrace area and about 1,000 people in the Nass Valley area are also in the dark.

Hydro spokesman Bob Gammer said the heavy wet snow is breaking lines and even bringing down poles.

He said it's also made it difficult for crews to reach some areas to repair the downed lines, and said they hope to restore electricity by some time Thursday evening.


Downed hydro lines are also blocking the highway between Terrace and Kitimat.
The highway between Prince Rupert and Terrace, and through the Nass Valley are closed due to a high avalanche hazard.

Travel advisories are in effect for travel in the Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat and Nisga'a Highway areas due to heavy snow and slush.

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