Commuters warned to prepare for frigid winds, slippery conditions in B.C. Friday; some areas to get more snow

Special weather warnings are in effect as Arctic air and freezing winds sweep across the province, and although the heavy snowfall warning has been lifted for most regions, British Columbiansare being encouraged to prepare for their commute on Friday afternoon.

A snowfall warning remainsin effect for east and south Vancouver Island, with five to 15 centimetres of heavy wet snow expected during the afternoon rush-hour commute.

In Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound and on the Sunshine Coast, Environment Canada expectsanother round of snow on Friday afternoon throughevening, in addition to slippery conditions.

Meanwhile, a series of Arctic outflow and extreme cold warnings have been issued for the north and central coasts,the Peace region and East Kootenay,withwindchill valuesexpected to remain near -20 C through Saturday morning.

"Anyone who is not dressed warmly is at risk of frostbite and hypothermia in cold weather," the agency said."Be prepared for unusually cold temperatures and strong winds."

A wind warning is in place for the Greater Victoria region, as strong southeast winds ranging from 70-90 km/h develop across the eastern entrance of Juan de Fuca Strait and southern sections of Haro Strait.

Although another wintry weather system is expected in the area Friday, experts don't expect it will be as severe as the storm that paralyzed transportation on Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

"Confidence in this [Friday] event is low to moderate," Environment Canada said.

Meteorologists expect the chilly and icy conditions to last through the weekend.

WATCH | Travel chaos as snow blankets B.C.'s South Coast:

Snow brings travel chaos, power outages to B.C.s southern coast

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Duration 2:33

The first major snowfall of the season created a nightmare travel scenario in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, with crashes and gridlock leaving some drivers stuck on the road for hours. Meanwhile, the storm took out power to tens of thousands across the region.

The B.C. Transportation Ministry says road maintenance contractors on the Lower Mainland are preparing forsnowfall during the Friday afternoon commute, as sub-zero temperatures begin to rise.

Crews will be out in full force, treating roads with brine in advance of any precipitation and will be ready tomanage accumulations of snow, according to the ministry.

Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead, stay off the road if weather conditions worsen, and ensure their vehicles are properly equipped with snow tires.

British Columbia's auto insurer, ICBC, says the number of accident claims made on Tuesdaywas nearly double that of the same day the week before.

According the insurance company,3,567 claims were made on Tuesday as vehicles spun out, wound up in ditches or simply crashed into each other amid a day of traffic gridlock and slippery streets, particularly in Metro Vancouver.

"If you don't have to drive in poor conditions, that is the safer choice," the company said in a statement.

"Take public transit if it's an option in your area. Call a taxi or ride-hailing service. Work from home if you're able to."

The blast ofwintry weather comes after the first major snowfall of the season causedtravel mayhem across the Lower Mainland on Tuesday. Tens of thousands of people on Vancouver Island lost power,many overnight.

Preliminary snowfall totals ranged from five centimetres in coastal areas to more than 20 centimetres on parts of Vancouver Island, according to the weather agency.Wind speeds ranged from 70 to100 km/h.