Decembers to Remember: big snowstorms at Christmastime in Vancouver

The Dec. 19-20, 2022 snowstorm that enveloped the Lower Mainland and Southern Vancouver Island is best-known for mammoth delays at Vancouver International Airport. Some holiday travellers were stranded for as much as 12 hours. Temperatures are expected to return to near-normal, bringing the risk of local flooding.

It's December. The last December's snowstorm caused huge delays at Vancouver International Airport. Forecasters predict another snow storm on Christmas weekend. Temperatures are expected to return to near-normal. There is a risk of local flooding.

Vancouver was just over a year away from welcoming the 2010 Winter Olympics when 102 cm of snow fell between Dec. 14, 2008 and Jan. 8, 2009.

1996. Environment Canada called it the “Storm of the Century” Victoria received 95 cm between Dec. 27-29 and Vancouver 80 cm for the entire month. A shed collapsed on 20 boats at Captain’s Cove Marina and workers with brooms scrambled to the roof of B.C. Place Stadium to clear off the snow.

1990 saw 25 cm of snowfall in Vancouver. Blowing snow wreaked havoc with SkyTrain's safety doors and forced the first major shutdown of the 1985-launched system. Burnaby Mountain was under 45 cm and bus service was cancelled to a variety of higher elevation routes in Burnby and the North Shore.

The December 30-31 snowstorm dumped 27.94 cm at Vancouver International Airport. The Bayshore Inn desperately hired a snowplow. Chinese Golf Association was expecting 600 guests, but only 360 showed up to ring in 1969.

There was 10 consecutive days of snowfall in 1965. Mayor Bill Rathie had trouble maneuvering city streets in his jeep with front tire chains. City manager Ran Martin had a flat tire.

A record December snowfall of 89.4 cm was recorded in Vancouver. The New Year's Eve dump of 50.8 cm hit the North Shore. West Vancouver council held an emergency meeting.

The entire City of Vancouver was without power and light service on Dec. 29 due to the snow storm. The transmission line from Stave Falls buckled under snow. There was also a turkey shortage that Christmas.