A late season snowfall is in the forecast for Highways 3, and the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt, where up to 25 centimetres of snow is in the forecast for both highways.

Environment Canada issued a special weather statement early today, March 31, which was later upgraded to a winter storm warning.

"A strong frontal system sliding down the coast will begin to spread moderate snow to the Coquihalla Highway starting this afternoon," the warning states. "Freezing levels are expected to remain below summit level. Snowfall rates will intensify this evening and persist through Saturday.

"Due to warmer road surfaces, significant amounts of snow are not expected to accumulate until later tonight."

The snowfall on Highway 3 between Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass is forecast to begin this afternoon and is expected to last until tomorrow night.

“For the Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass the onset of snow is delayed until this afternoon and will increase in intensity by Saturday morning," the warning states. "The heavy snow will persist through Saturday evening. Total snowfall accumulations could be as high as 25 cm.”

— This story was updated at 11:30 a.m. Friday, March 31, 2023, with new information from Environment Canada.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.