Snow is already falling at Albert Canyon on Highway 1. A total of 25 centimetres is expected by Friday morning.
Image Credit: Drive B.C. webcam
February 05, 2015 - 7:32 AM
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A winter storm is bringing heavy snow to much of the province today and tonight and the Southern Interior is no exception.
Environment Canada says to expect heavy snow on Highway 1 from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass—up to 25 centimetres by Friday morning—and on Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.
Other Interior highways will experience a mix of snow and rain over the next 24 hours, including a bit of freezing rain in some areas. About 2 to 4 cm of snow will fall on the Coquihalla Highway from Kamloops to Merritt during the day and then there is a 60 per cent chance of showers overnight. From Merritt to Hope there will be a mix of rain and snow today, and then another 10-15 millimetres of rain tonight.
The Okanagan Connector is expected to receive 5 cm of snow today with a 60 per cent chance of rain or flurries tonight while Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton will experience periods of rain and snow during the day and rain overnight. Rainfall warnings have also been issued in the Lower Mainland and Whistler areas and snowfall warnings from the Cariboo and Prince George areas heading north.
Avalanche Canada has also increased the risk rating to considerable at all elevations for the North and South Columbia ranges, the alpine level of the Kootenay Boundary range and for the treeline and alpine levels in Glacier National Park. All four ranges are expected to have high risk areas by Friday and heading into the long weekend.
In town we can expect to see a chance of rain or wet snow today. In Penticton and Kelowna, a 40 to 70 per cent chance of showers is also expected Friday through Sunday with showers forecast for Family Day Monday.
Vernon can expect to see periods of rain Friday and Monday with a 70 per cent chance of showers Saturday and a 40 per cent chance Sunday. Kamloops will likely be a bit drier, with only a 40 per cent chance of showers Thursday followed by dry weather for two days and then a 30 per cent chance of rain on Sunday. There is also a 60 per cent chance of showers being forecast for Kamloops on Family Day.
Temperatures will be in the 7 to 11 Celsius range over the weekend, well above the seasonal normal high of 2 C.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015