Coquihalla Lakes at 6:22 a.m.
Image Credit: DriveBC
February 07, 2023 - 6:56 AM
Heavy snow with accumulations of up to 25 cm are expected today, Feb. 7, through tonight on the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt.
Environment Canada issued a winter storm warning for the highway and also for Highway 3 through the Kootenay Pass, where more than 25 cm of snow is expected. Paulson Pass can expect 15 cm of snow.
“A frontal system moving across the B.C. Interior will give heavy snow to southern highway passes,” the warning says. “Light snow this morning will intensify later in the today. The snow will abate Wednesday morning as the system exits the region.”
Over the Coquihalla the snow will mostly be near the summit as snow levels are expected to be about 1,200 metres. But the snow levels are likely to drop to 600 metres this evening.
“Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve,” the warning says. “Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.”
There is currently dense fog with limited visibility from 6 km south of the Great Bear Snowshed to 12 km north of the Coquihalla Summit, according to DriveBC.
The B.C. Travellers Forecast says there’s a 70% chance of showers on the Coquihalla Highway from Merritt to Kamloops, except for snow flurries near the summit.
On the Okanagan Connector, 5 cm of snow are expected today. There are slippery sections between the Pennask Summit and West Kelowna.
Highway 3 from Hope to Merritt will see periods of rain with snow accumulations of up to 10 cm near the Allison Pass.
Highway 1 from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass can expect 10 cm of snow, ending after midnight. The snow level should rise to 1,000 metres this afternoon then drop to valley bottoms late in the evening with another 5 cm of snow expected overnight.
On Highway 97 watch for black ice from 13 km south of Coldstream to 17 km north of Vernon.
Environment Canada says there’s a 60% chance of showers in Kamloops this morning with the snow level at 1,200 metres. Winds are expected to gust up to 60 km/h this afternoon with a high temperature of 9 Celsius.
Vernon and Kelowna have a 70% chance of showers today with a snow level of 1,200 metres, winds gusting to 40 km/h this afternoon and a high of 6 C.
Penticton has a 60% chance of showers, a snow level of 1,200 metres, winds of 40 km/h gusting to 60 km/h and a high temperature expected to be 7 C.
Sun Peaks Ski Resort had no new snow in the last 24 hours leaving the hill with an alpine base of 184 cm. It’s -5 C.
Silver Star Mountain Resort is -2 C, with no new snow in the last 24 hours and an alpine base of 194 cm.
Big White Ski Resort had 1 cm of new snow in the last 24 hours, is -4 C and has an alpine base of 197 cm.
Apex Mountain Resort had no new snow in the last 24 hours has an alpine base of 170 cm and is -3 C.
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