Snowfall warnings issued for Southern Interior

Up to 20 cm of snow is expected to fall in mountain passes and valley bottoms today, Jan. 16, through Wednesday, triggering numerous snowfall warnings.

“A cold front will combine with a Pacific low pressure system and bring snow, heavy at times into southern BC,” the Environment Canada warnings say. “Snow will start tonight and become heavy overnight. Total snowfall amounts of 10 to 15 cm and higher amounts up to 20 cm locally can be expected before the snow tapers off Wednesday evening.”

The warnings cover the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Kamloops, Okanagan Connector, Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton, the Okanagan, Nicola and Similkameen.

A separate warning for Highway 1 from Rogers Pass to Eagle Pass has the same total amount of snow, up to 20 cm, but it is expected to start falling this morning rather than tonight.

Kamloops can expect a high today of -12 Celsius with wind chills of – 23 C this morning and -18 this afternoon. The overnight low is forecast at -13 C.

Light snow is expected to start this afternoon, turning to heavy snow near midnight with 5-10 cm accumulating.

Vernon and Kelowna can expect highs of -12 C today with wind chills down to -20 C this morning, -15 C this afternoon. The overnight low is expected to remain at -12 C.

Snow should start later this evening with 2-4 cm, turning heavy overnight with 10-15 cm more accumulating

Penticton will be warmer with a high of -9 C today. Its forecast also calls for 5-10 cm of snow.

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