Winter storm warning on Coquihalla Highway

MERRITT – Heavy snowfall with blowing snow is expected on Highway 5 from Hope to Merritt this morning.

Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for the Coqihalla today, Jan. 6.

A low pressure system will move across the B.C. Interior today, a media release says. A cool and very unstable airmass will produce heavy snow and strong wind gusts of 80 km/h over the highway.

Heavy, blowing snow will develop this morning with 15 cm of snow accumulation expected by this afternoon. Periods of snow will continue through tonight with an additional 5 to 10 cm expected but the strong winds will ease this evening.

Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.

Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions.

For the latest on weather warnings go the Environment Canada website here.

For the very latest on highway conditions go to Drive B.C. here.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Shelby Thevenot or call (250) 819-6089 or email the editor You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won’t censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.
Shelby Thevenot

Shelby has lived across Canada. She grew up near Winnipeg, Manitoba then obtained her B.F.A in Multidisciplinary Fine Arts at the University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta. In 2014 she moved to Montreal, Quebec to study French and thrived in the Visual Journalism Graduate Diploma program at Concordia University. Now she works at iNFO News where she strives to get the stories that matter to the Okanagan Valley community.

Member of:

The Professional Writers Association of Canada

Quebec Writers Federation

English Language Arts Network