Highway travel outside of Kamloops this weekend will be challenging

Travel out of the Kamloops area is not going to be easy over the next couple of days.

Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist says valley bottoms are generally wet but bare of snow this morning as temperatures rise above freezing and melting continues through the day.

That’s not the situation in higher terrain, however, where Lundquist says driving will be a challenge for the next 36 hours.

The Coquihalla summit has already received 70 centimetres of snow, with an additional 20 to 60 cm expected between today, Dec. 20, and Saturday afternoon.

“There’s a really big band of precipitation along the coast right now that could result in a lot more snow,” he says.

Lundquist advises motorists to check Drive BC and the province’s highway webcams before setting out.

Weather conditions are expected to ease on Sunday, with cooler temperatures and clearing conditions.

Lundquist says chances of a white Christmas in Kamloops are doubtful, with the snow presently on the ground melting fast and no appreciable precipitation in the forecast between now and Christmas.

In the higher terrain, things will definitely be white, however.

Environment Canada continues to issue active weather alerts for winter storm warnings for the Trans-Canada Highway, the Okanagan Connector and the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt today calling for additional snowfall amounts of 20 to 60 cm.

Today in Kamloops, expect cloudy skies with a 30 per cent chance of showers and a high of 5 Celsius. There is a 60 per cent chance of showers overnight with the snow level dropping to 600 metres and an expected low of 2 C.

Clouds continue into Saturday with a 60 per cent chance of rain in the morning before clearing in the afternoon.

Saturday’s daytime temperature is expected to remain steady at 1 C.

Skies are expected to clear overnight with a low to -2 C.

Sunday should see a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 0 C, dropping to -7 C overnight.

Sunny skies are expected to continue Monday with a high of -3 C and a low to -7 C.

A mix of sun and cloud is forecast for Christmas Eve on Tuesday with a high of -4 C and a low of -5 C.

Expect a mix of sun and cloud on Christmas Day on Wednesday with a high of -3 C.

Normal temperatures this time of year in Kamloops are highs of -1 C and lows of -7 C.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to tips@infonews.ca 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.