Expect winter driving on southern Interior mountain highways with arrival of spring storm

If you must travel, be prepared for winter driving conditions on high mountain passes in the southern B.C. Interior this weekend.

Environment Canada says an unseasonably cool spring storm will deliver significant snow to the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, the Okanagan Connector from Merritt to Kelowna, the Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass, and Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton via Allison Pass, and from Kootenay Pass to Paulson Summit, beginning this evening, March 27.

The special weather statement says snow will continue through Saturday with intense bursts of flurries following in the wake of the system on Sunday.

Gusty winds will further reduce visibilities in blowing snow, especially on Sunday.

Between 30 and 40 centimetres of snow is expected on the Hope to Merritt portion of the Coquihalla Highway, with between 15 and 25 cm is expected on Highway 3's Allison Pass and Kootenay Pass, Highway 97C (Okanagan Connector), and Rogers Pass on Highway 1.

Snow levels are expected to drop to between 1,100 and 1,400 metres with a transition to rain at lower elevations expected to make driving conditions even worse.

Motorists are encouraged to consider delaying travel plans until early next week.

For the latest on road conditions go to the DriveBC website here.

For the latest on the special weather statement and other weather warnings in B.C. go here.

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