Weather alert for much of B.C. Interior calls for snow, lower temperatures

It’s starting to feel wintery out there.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for the region today, warning that snow is coming to mountain passes and by Friday potentially into the valleys.

The statement applies to the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, and Merritt to Kamloops as well as the Okanagan Connector, advising motorists to be on the lookout for poor weather conditions, taking the necessary safety precautions in the event of adverse conditions.

Another special weather statement also applies to the South Thompson, Nicola, Similkameen, Okanagan and Boundary regions of the southern interior of the province.

Below seasonal temperatures and more early season snow is expected Friday as arctic air sweeps into the province.

Widespread snow is expected with the arctic airmass, which should reach the Kamloops region by Friday afternoon.

Snow is expected to fall from the Chilcotin and 100 Mile area south to the Fraser Canyon and east to the Kootenays, with between 2 and 10 cm expected.

Snow mixed with rain is forecast for south and eastern portions of this area.

The system is expected to pass through the area by Saturday, but daytime highs are expected to be as much as 10 degrees Celsius below seasonal as the arctic airmass lingers over the weekend.

More details on the alert can be found here.

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