Pacific storm to bring rain, heavy snow to southern B.C. Interior

VANCOUVER – Snowfall or winter storm warnings have been posted for most of British Columbia’s southern Interior on what is expected to be one of the busiest travel weekends of the year.

Environment Canada says people living and driving through the Fraser Canyon and East Columbia regions will see the worst of it, with 30 to 60 centimetres of snow expected by late Friday afternoon.

Snow warnings have also been posted for the Similkameen, Shuswap, Nicola, Okanagan, West Kootenay, West and North Columbia, Yoho Park, Kinbasket, Elk Valley and the Arrow Lakes regions.

The forecaster says there will be heavy snow at times, up to 25 centimetres.

Rain is expected in the Fraser Valley, where a warning has been posed for Chilliwack and Hope.

The Pacific frontal system coming in from the south coast is expected to bring 50 to 70 millimetres of rain to those area.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 19, 2019.