Southern Interior travel alerts upgraded to warnings

The storm system that brought snow and travel alerts to the Southern Interior yesterday, Feb. 27, continues today with Environment Canada issuing winter storm warnings for mountain passes.

Up to 40 cm of snow could fall on the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, Highway 1 from Rogers Pass to Eagle Pass and Highway 3 from the Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass through to Thursday morning.

As much as 25 cm of snow could fall along Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton.

The warning includes the North Thompson where 15 cm of snow had fallen in the Clearwater area by early this morning. Another 10 cm of snow is expected today before it turns to rain late this afternoon or early this evening.

“A strong Pacific frontal system is pushing through the BC interior,” the warning says. “Snowfall associated with the system will continue into Thursday. In addition, gusty southwest winds will develop today and persist into Thursday.”

Snow fell in the valley bottoms overnight but should start melting later today as temperatures in Kamloops are forecast to rise to 9 Celsius today and 12 C Thursday.

There is a 40-60% chance of showers or flurries through to Thursday morning with an overnight low tonight of 2 C in Kamloops.

High temperatures in the Okanagan should be 7-8 C today with flurries or rain showers. The forecast is for an overnight low of 3 C and a high of 5 C on Thursday and drier.

 – This story was updated at 7:40 a.m. on Feb. 28, 2024 to add information about the North Thompson.

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