FILE PHOTO - Snow plow on the Coquihalla Highway on Nov 2, 2013.
Image Credit: Contributed/B.C. Ministry of Transportation/Jess M. Cote
February 20, 2021 - 5:07 PM
Environment Canada issued a winter storm watch for the Coquihalla Highway and the Trans Canada Highway.
The notice sent out today, Feb. 20, indicates on the Coquihalla snow, from Hope to Merritt, will change to heavy rain with the potential for heavy snow at the summit Sunday night.
"A frontal system laden with subtropical moisture will move across southern B.C. beginning tonight and lasting until Sunday night bringing a messy mix of rain on top of snow on Sunday and the possibility of heavy wet snow at the summit Sunday night," reads the notice.
The initial warm front will slowly raise snow levels Saturday night with snow still falling on the upper elevations of the Coquihalla Highway - Hope to Merritt and Highway 3 via Allison Pass.
By Sunday morning, the warm airmass will be over southern B.C. with snow levels near or slightly above the Coquihalla Summit and Allison Pass. Rain will fall over most of the highway with wet snow or rain mixed with snow near at summit.
As the cold front approaches Sunday night, precipitation rates will intensify and thus there is potential for snow levels to drop just below the summit or pass levels, resulting in heavy accumulating snow up to 15 cm.
On the Trans-Canada Highway, from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass, total snowfall accumulation for Sunday and Sunday night may reach 40 centimetres.
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