Driving mountain passes a challenge; heavy snow falling

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The meteorologists at Environment Canada are predicting a dump of snow on the mountain passes Saturday making the drive to and from the Thompson-Okanagan a challenge this weekend.

A disturbance moving south from the northwest is responsible for the heavy snow, according to a special weather statement issued Saturday morning.

The Okanagan Connector, Trans Canada from Rogers Pass to Eagle Pass and Highway 3 from Princeton to Hope through the Allison Pass will receive 15 to 20 centimetres of snow by midnight.

The Coquihalla Highway will get the most snow, 20 to 25 cm.

The weather system’s impact in the Okanagan Valley and Kamloops will be less dramatic, with up to 10 cm of snow expected by Sunday when the periods of snow will change to flurries.

The air mass will dry out and the snow will taper to flurries overnight Saturday as it moves south.

A strong ridge of high pressure from Yukon will advance toward the B.C. Interior behind Saturday night dropping the mercury to at least ten degrees below normal temperatures at this time of year, according to Environment Canada.

The Arctic air associated with the ridge is forecast to hang around the Thompson-Okanagan for at least the next seven days.

For the very latest weather forecasts and warnings go to Environment Canada’s website.

The latest driving conditions are available at Drive B.C.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.