Freezing rain and snowfall warnings issued for Coquihalla, Kamloops

Snow along the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt is expected to turn to freezing rain for much of today, Jan. 19, making driving treacherous.

The rain is also expected along Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton, triggering Environment Canada freezing rain warnings for both regions.

A snowfall warning has been issued for Kamloops. No warnings have been given for the Okanagan but snow is expected there throughout today.

“A Pacific frontal system combined with lingering cold air is expected to produce an extended period of freezing rain,” the highway warnings say. “Snow that has developed overnight will transition to freezing rain this morning through the afternoon. The freezing rain is expected to ease or transition to showers or flurries by Saturday morning.”

The snowfall warning calls for 10 cm of snow in the South Thompson with up to 15 cm in the northwest sections. It could become mixed with ice pellets this evening before tapering off.

Kamloops is expecting a high of -4 Celsius today and through the night, climbing to a high of -1 C on Saturday and 3 C on Sunday before rising to 5 C next week.

Vernon could get 5-10 cm of snow today through to this evening. Kelowna is forecast to get 5 cm of snow and Penticton 2-4 cm.

The daytime highs in the Okanagan are forecast to be -6 C to -7 C today and -6 C overnight before rising to -2 C on Saturday and as high as 4 C by Tuesday.

The snowfall earlier this week dumped 18 cm on Kamloops, 14 cm in Kelowna and 11 cm in Penticton, according to Environment Canada’s Weather Summaries page.

That page does not include Vernon.

Vancouver recorded 28 cm of snow from Tuesday through Wednesday, Chilliwack 39 cm and Victoria airport 19 cm. The highest snowfall listed on the Weather Summaries page was 46 cm at the Hope slide.

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