Seaplane flights were grounded and motorists asked to drive cautiously after a blast of winter weather hit Vancouver Island Monday morning.

Snowflakes started falling in downtown Victoria after 9 a.m. while homes up-island woke to a blanket of the white stuff.

 

It's snowing like mad in downtown Victoria this morning! ❄️

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Helijet and Harbour Air flights were placed on an indefinite hold due to the weather, while flights out of Victoria International Airport were mostly unaffected.

Duncan-North Cowichan RCMP warned drivers that a section of Golf Hill on the Trans-Canada Highway was in very bad shape and should be avoided if possible.

“Motorists are not getting through right now and are being advised to take an alternate route,” said Cpl. Krista Hobday.

Driving conditions were poor at higher elevations including the Malahat, which was covered in a thick layer of snow as of 11 a.m., according to Drive BC highway cameras.

A crash on the Trans-Canada Highway at Finlayson Arm Road around 11:45 a.m. shut down northbound lanes of the highway while crews attended.

The highway was also briefly closed from Cowichan Bay Road to Bench Road due to slippery sections, and delays were expected due to congestion after it reopened.

West Shore RCMP warned drivers against travelling on Bear Mountain Parkway, which was said to be in very poor condition. "We strongly recommend you do not drive if not equipped with proper winter tires," police tweeted.

Meanwhile up-island, Osbourne and Crotfton roads, both leading into Crofton, B.C., were briefly closed due to accidents and poor road conditions.

In Victoria, Environment Canada forecast a few flurries and rain showers ending Monday afternoon, with an estimated snowfall of two centimetres.

The snow was expected to give way to rain for many island communities for the remainder of the week. 

No official snowfall warnings were issued by Environment Canada.