Up to 25 centimetres of snow is expected to fall before the end of the day at the Coquihalla Summit.
Image Credit: Drive B.C.
December 09, 2015 - 7:37 AM
THOMPSON-OKANANAGAN - With a snowfall warning in place for the Coquihalla Highway and Highway 3 we can expect to see significant snowfall on highway passes before the end of the day.
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for higher elevations as a Pacific frontal system begins moving across Southern B.C. today, Dec. 9.
The Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt and Allison Pass on Highway 3 are expected to be hit with the most snow, with up to 20 cm expected this afternoon and another 5 cm possible before the snow tapers off tonight.
The weather office warns driving conditions could change and deteriorate quickly and visibility could suddenly become reduced during heavy snow.
About 5 cm of snow has accumulated at Allison Pass over the past day, for a total of more than 73 cm of snow currently on the ground. The Coquihalla Summit has 43 cm on the ground, little change from yesterday, and Pennask Summit on Highway 97C has nearly 93 cm, up significantly from the 81 cm on the ground Tuesday morning.
While higher elevations are expected to get snow, we can expect rain at the lower elevations. A high of 6 Celsius to 9 C is expected throughout the region, along with showers this morning and possibly overnight. A chance of rain is expected to persist through the weekend in the Okanagan.
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