The Vancouver Police Department and Nanaimo RCMP are cautioning people to stay off the roads because of snow and ice. (CBC)

As a heavy snowstorm continued to pummel the south coast of British Columbia, the Vancouver Police Department and the Nanaimo RCMP warned the public to stay home because of poor road conditions and extreme weather.

In a release Sunday, the VPD advised people to "stay at home and not travel unless absolutely necessary."

Because of deteriorating road conditions and heavy snowfall, numerous streets throughout the city were barricaded to stop traffic, the statement said.

Closures include Boundary Road south of Rumble Street, West Broadway between Oak and Granville streets, and Oak Street between 6th Avenue and West Broadway.

On Vancouver Island, Const. Tom Gravelle of the Nanaimo RCMP said roads are snowy and icy.

"The road conditions in Nanaimo are very treacherous," Gravelle said. "Short of an emergency, there's no reason to be on the road. There's nothing that can't wait a day or two …and it's not worth the risk or the hazard."

In B.C.'s central interior, Highway 97 was closed in both directions Sunday because of a collision.