B.C. snowstorm: Warning issued for 15-25cm of snow | TransLink reports some detours, delays | 15% of flights affected at YVR | HOV lanes closed on Port Mann Bridge

A winter storm hit BC’s south coast on Saturday, with significant snow accumulation expected overnight through Sunday. Follow this live blog for regular updates on the latest forecasts, road conditions and airport and ferry cancellations.

Weather forecast: How much snow will fall where?

Environment and Climate Change Canada is forecasting snow to begin Saturday afternoon on the south coast, with accumulations of between 15 and 25 centimeters expected overnight.

A snowfall warning applies to Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Whistler and Sea to Sky Highway, Squamish to Whistler.

The weather bureau says snow will begin moving south on Saturday, dumping up to 14 inches in the Columbia and North Thompson regions.

Heavy snowfall is expected to ease for most regions early Sunday morning.

TransLink reports scheduled service with some diversions, delays

TransLink reported late Saturday that additional staff have been deployed across the system to keep the transit running as best it can.

Conditions change by the minute and some bus routes are experiencing detours and delays due to road conditions, particularly in some areas of Vancouver. TransLink is in constant contact with municipalities and recommends which roads most urgently need to be gritted and plowed.

TransLink encourages bus users to sign up for Transit Alerts, consult Trip Planner or follow @TransLink on Twitter for the most up-to-date information and route-specific information.

SkyTrain, SeaBus and HandyDART run regularly.

Metro Vancouver prepares for the winter blast

Metro Vancouver crews have treated all major routes with brine and/or salt. Staff and equipment are available 24/7 on weekends if needed Encourage residents to only make essential journeys and to take safety precautions if they must drive.

Bus service throughout the Metro and Fraser Valley area may be impacted.

Road trips ill-advised

If you must travel, prepare with snow tires and an emergency kit, and proceed with caution. Of course, after you have cleared your vehicle of snow accumulations. Both the eastbound and westbound HOV lanes across the Port Mann Bridge have been closed due to “winter operations”.

flights affected

On Saturday, several airlines had canceled or rescheduled evening flights into YVR ahead of the storm, and passengers were urged to check their flight status and allow more time at the airport due to expected delays and lineups.

The heaviest snowfall is expected between 7 p.m. and midnight, and this significant snowfall will cause flight impacts as airlines adjust flight schedules to reflect the conditions, YVR said in a statement on Saturday.

“Our equipment and crews are ready. Our de-icing system is fully functional. Airlines have been asked to ensure full towing capacity during the snow event to prevent empty planes from being stuck at the gates and preventing other planes from lifting passengers off the plane,” the statement said.

But it says its staff is already working to keep runways and taxiways clear and its de-icing system is “fully operational”.

“Passengers should know that such a step is not to be taken lightly and that their safety is paramount when working with our airline partners and other agencies,” the airport said in a press release on Saturday.

Food distribution suspended

DoorDash announced Friday that it is ceasing operations in Metro Vancouver and parts of East Vancouver Island.

“The precautionary measure comes as a significant winter storm is expected to bring dangerous weather conditions, including heavy snowfall, ice and freezing temperatures,” the service said in a press release.