FILE PHOTO
Image Credit: Government of B.C.
Republished November 12, 2021 - 1:13 PM
Original Publication Date November 12, 2021 - 9:37 AM
Travellers on high elevation mountain passes in the southern B.C. Interior will be facing winter driving conditions as a so-called atmospheric river flows through this weekend.
“A series of moisture-laden systems associated with an atmospheric river from the Pacific will begin arriving Saturday evening and bring heavy snow to higher elevation highway passes over southeastern B.C.,” according to Environment Canada special weather statements issued for the Coquihalla Highway and the Okanagan Connector, along with the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 6 to Alberta.
Environment Canada said between 15 and 20 centimetres of snow could fall on the higher elevation highway passes.
The heavy snow is forecast on the Coquihalla Highway from Merritt to Hope, the Okanagan Connector (Highway 97C) from Kelowna to Merritt, Highway 1 from Rogers Pass to Eagle Pass and Highway 3 from Kootenay Pass to Paulson Summit.
READ MORE: Atmospheric river brings rain and snow to southern B.C.
The weather office is still uncertain of the timing and total amount of the snow but current models show snowfall on both highways.
“By late Sunday morning, freezing levels will climb above 2,000 metres and the heavy snow is expected to transition to rain persisting into Monday,” the weather statement reads.
Environment Canada has also issued special weather statements for parts of the south coast.
Special weather statements issued for Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast said rainfall amounts of 75 to 120 millimetres is on the way Saturday evening and will continue through to Monday.
This is the second so-called atmospheric river to sweep over B.C. in the last four weeks.
Road conditions can be monitored through Drive B.C. here.
For the latest special weather statements, watches or warnings go to Environment Canada's web page here.
To report severe weather, send an email to BCstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #BCStorm.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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