COAST MOUNTAINS School District has cancelled bus runs and classes today because of the weather, but the schools will be open.
District superintendent Nancy Wells said the decision was made with student safety in mind.
"What with the weather and the wind and the impending blizzard, we felt this was the right move. Our first concern is for student safety," said Wells.
The decision affects classes in Kitimat, Terrace, the Hazeltons, Kitwanga and Stewart.
School buildings will be opened and staffed by administrators and those teachers who can make it to work for those students not aware that classes are cancelled, said Wells.
She said any decision about classes on Monday will be made once a clearer weather picture develops over the weekend.
Today's classes cancellation aside, Wells said the district has not had many problems because of the very cold weather.
Maintenance people did have to contend with frozen pipes in the Hazeltons, she added.
The temperature in Terrace this morning is -17 and with the wind chill, it is -32. The forecast is for up to 20cm of snow between now and Saturday morning.
A courier flight from Vancouver to Terrace has been suspended this morning because of icing conditions and Air Canada Jazz has cancelled its morning flight from Vancouver to Terrace.
Shames Mountain is also closed because of the weather.
And, as of 8:30 today, highways officials have issued a travel advisory for Hwy16 leading west of Terrace toward Prince Rupert.