Snow, freezing rain to hit valley bottoms in Southern Interior tonight

Environment Canada warnings of snow and freezing rain in mountain passes issued yesterday, Oct. 31, now include valley bottoms in the Southern Interior.

“A warm front associated with a low pressure system will move into the BC Interior tonight,” Environment Canada said in statements issued early this morning. “As warm air aloft moves over the existing cold air, freezing rain will develop, particularly over higher elevations and highway passes. Freezing rain will end or change to rain Thursday morning as the cold air erodes.”

Vernon could get as much as 5 centimetres of snow after midnight tonight and Kelowna has a forecast for 2 cm.

Snow levels are expected to be near valley bottoms in Kamloops and the South Okanagan so along with the expected freezing rain, snow could hit those areas as well.

Kamloops has a forecast high of 4 Celsius today, dropping to 1 C overnight before risings to 8 C Thursday with rain.

Kelowna and Vernon can expect highs of 3 C today with overnight lows of 0 C. Temperatures are forecast to rise to 5 C Thursday with a chance of rain or snow.

Penticton should be warmer, with a high of 8 C today and an overnight low of 3 C, rising to 7 C tomorrow with the chance of a few showers.

Snow tires have been mandatory on BC highways since Oct. 1.

“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots will become icy, slippery and hazardous,” the Environment Canada statements warn. “Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays. Utility outages may occur. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions.”

Check for weather statements here and DriveBC road reports here.

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