Chilliwack schools shut down for the day on Monday, due to heavy snowfalls over the weekend.
The total accumulation was an estimated 80 cm from when the snow starting falling on Friday. By comparison, average annual snowfall in Chilliwack is 85 cm.
Snow drifts from blowing wind and piles created from road clearing made mountains of the white stuff along sidewalks, property edges and along buildings. All of it made getting around on foot difficult, which is a major factor in school closures.
The Chilliwack School District was among the first in the Fraser Valley to call Monday a snow day, at about 1 p.m. on Sunday. Fraser Cascade, which includes Hope, Agassiz, Harrison Hot Springs and Boston Bar, also closed schools for the day.
UFV has now had more than three days of closures and cancelled classes. All campuses were closed for the evening on Friday, as snow began falling heavily across the Fraser Valley. That closure remained in place through the weekend, and the school is updating students and staff regularly through their website. Their next update is expected at 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
Private schools also cancelled classes for the day. Unity Christian closed due to the snow accumulation on side roads. Cascade Christian and Highroad Academy also closed for the day, along with St. Jean Brebeuf in Abbotsford.
Abbotsford and Langley school districts also closed all schools on Monday.
Students hoping to catch up on their homework at local libraries will also be out of luck today. Chilliwack and Sardis libraries also announced Monday morning they would be closed for the day due to snow. In fact, most of Fraser Valley's libraries were closed for the day, including those in Langley, Abbotsford, Mission, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
WEATHER ALERT: All libraries in #LangleyBC, #Abbotsford, #Chilliwack, #MissionBC, #MapleRidge & #PittMeadows closed today. More may follow. pic.twitter.com/crvYck89s5
—