FILE PHOTO

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/B.C. Ministry of Transportation

Travellers may want to rethink their travel plans this weekend as it's going to get nasty on the Coquihalla Highway thanks to a weather system crossing southern BC that's expected to produce heavy snow and wind.

Environment Canada updated the snowfall warning today, Nov. 11, for the major route between the Interior and the Lower Mainland. Travellers can expect heavy snow over the Remembrance Day weekend from Saturday morning through Saturday night with the snow easing Sunday morning.

Rain mixed with snow is expected for the morning, with heavier snowfall beginning this afternoon.

The weather office said to expect difficult winter driving conditions with reduced visibility in the snow, between 25 and 40 centimetres by Sunday, along with blowing snow.

"Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations," the warning said. "Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions."

A snowfall warning is also in place for Highway 3 from Princeton to Hope through Allison Pass, specifically the Manning-Skagit Valley where up to 30 cm of snow is expected to fall by Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, a special weather statement remains in effect for the Trans-Canada Highway between Eagle Pass and Rogers Pass. Up to 30 cm of snow is also expected on that stretch of high mountain highway.

The vigorous frontal system has prompted multiple warnings for Metro Vancouver, with 50 to 70 millimetres of rain expected to hit the Fraser Valley and the Northshore and northeast regions beginning tonight.

Environment Canada says a "vigorous frontal system" expected to cross British Columbia's south coast is bringing with it heavy rain and wind for some regions of the province, and snow for others, until at least Saturday. Forecasters say the rain should taper off over parts of Metro Vancouver on Saturday morning but persist in the Fraser Valley until the evening.

Wind warnings also cover much of the region as well as portions of Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, with gusts of up to 90 kilometres per hour before easing Saturday morning. Environment Canada says wind could cause power outages and downpours could be heavy enough to lead to flash floods and water pooling on roads.

For the latest on the special weather statement, go to Environment Canada’s public weather alert page here.

For the latest conditions on they highways, check out DriveBC here.

— With files from The Canadian Press.

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