BC Ferries has cancelled all remaining sailings on the route connecting Greater Victoria and Metro Vancouver for Sunday because of adverse weather. The tweet announcing the cancellations also promised additional sailings departing Greater Victoria’s Swartz Bay at 8 a.m. and Metro Vancouver’s Tsawwassen at 10 a.m.
#BCFHeadsUp #Tsawwassen – #SwartzBay sailings have been cancelled on this route for the remainder of the evening. Additional sailings tomorrow departing #SwartzBay at 8:00 am & departing #Tsawwassen at 10:00 am.^mg
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 13, 2020
#SwartzBay #Tsawwassen last sailings of the day cancelled. pic.twitter.com/jlcvCCKuYu
— Cynthia Johnson (@cynthijohnson1) January 13, 2020
The announcement of the cancellations coincides with snow falling throughout the Saanich Peninsula with confirmed snow fall reports in Sidney and North Saanich, raising questions about whether service will be able to resume tomorrow.
It is not clear how many people travelling from Greater Victoria to destinations elsewhere will strand in the area, but the number is likely in the thousands. BC Ferries announced the cancellations just after 7 p.m. in concluding a day full of cancellations that started in the morning and continued throughout the day.
“The safety of our passengers and crew is of primary importance to us,” said BC Ferries in a statement on its website earlier today. “We don’t take the decision to cancel sailings lightly, as we know customers rely on us to get to their destinations. We will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so.”
BC Ferries’ earlier statement also said that “we appreciate your patience and apologize for any inconvenience” experienced because of these cancellations.
BC Ferries had earlier warned travellers about a “high probability” that weather predicted to hit the Greater Victoria and Metro Vancouver today will affect service.
#BCFHeadsUp #SwartzBay – #Tsawwassen, #Tsawwassen – #DukePoint, #HorseshoeBay – #DepartureBay multiple sailings today have been cancelled due to adverse weather. More updates to come promptly. ^lm
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 12, 2020
RELATED: Strong winds and snow on B.C.’s south coast and a deep freeze up north
RELATED: Adverse weather brings ferry cancellations between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay
#BCFHeadsUp Wind warnings are in effect and travel on many of our routes may be affected. Please keep an eye on our Travel Advisory here for the most up to date information: https://t.co/n7I1gEQacz ^lm
— BC Ferries (@BCFerries) January 12, 2020
“Wind warnings are in effect and travel on many of our routes may be affected,” BC Ferries said in an earlier tweet Sunday morning.
BC Ferries issued the warning after Environment Canada Saturday has issued various weather warnings for Metro Vancouver, Greater Victoria and the Southern Gulf Island.
Most immediately, they include a snowfall warning for several municipalities in Metro Vancouver for Sunday.
“Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster will see wet snow mixed with rain,” it reads. “Precipitation type will depend on proximity to the water, elevation, intensity and wind direction. As a result, lower accumulations of 5 to 10 cm are forecast for these cities.”
Travellers between Metro Vancouver and Greater Victoria also experienced cancellations yesterday and Friday from adverse weather.
RELATED: A dozen sailings between Greater Victoria and Greater Vancouver cancelled during first week of 2020
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