January 17 - Western Canada is bracing for more snow, and that means potential impacts on flight schedules.

Heavy snow is expected to fall across wide swaths of southern B.C., and parts of southern Alberta. Environment Canada has issued a series of snowfall warnings calling for 10 to 20 centimetres of snow from Vancouver Island to the Alberta border.

Vancouver International Airport posted this message this morning: “With snow in the forecast today and into the days ahead, safety remains our top priority. While our teams are actively clearing snow and ice from runways and taxiways and operating our de-icing facilities, there will be fewer flights able to arrive and depart in response to winter weather conditions. As a result, there will be some impacts to flight schedules at YVR. Check the status of your flight with your airline before coming to the airport. If your flight has been delayed or cancelled, it is best to rebook online or over the phone rather than come to the airport. Many airlines, including Air Canada and WestJet, currently have flexible rebooking policies in place.”

The Victoria Airport Authority also posted a message: “The upcoming inclement winter weather forecast is impacting (Jan 17) flight schedules. Please confirm the status of your flight with your airline before coming to the airport and if you are travelling, please give yourself extra time to get here safely.”

Airlines with flexible change policies in place include Air Canada, WestJet, Porter and Flair Airlines.

Meanwhile most of New Brunswick, Quebec’s Côte-Nord region and Gaspe Peninsula, as well as Newfoundland are under various winter storm and wind warnings.

With file from The Canadian Press