Snow, possible freezing rain on southern Interior mountain highways

Rain expected in the valley bottoms will fall as snow on mountain highways leading into the southern Interior today.

“The next 24 hours could be a concern for driving conditions, with snow picking up later this morning and falling into the late afternoon,” Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon says.

Highway 3 from Princeton to Hope via Allison Pass could see five to 10 centimetres of snow at higher elevations, while the Coquihalla could see between 10 to 15 cm. There is a snowfall warning in effect for Highway 97 from Clinton to 100 Mile House through the Begbie Summit.

A special weather statement has been issued for the Merritt to Hope section of Highway 5 warning drivers to expect brief bursts of snow, fluctuating snow levels and rapidly changing road conditions.

"The rain-snow level for the highways will fluctuate throughout this afternoon and evening as invading warm air battles against heavy snowfall rates," the statement reads.

The snow is expected to begin around noon today, Nov. 16, tapering off to rain showers later this evening.

Sekhon says to expect a mix of precipitation as temperatures rise later today, including freezing rain.

Snowfall in the valley bottoms is expected to be limited with this round of precipitation, with four to five cm falling locally in higher elevation neighbourhoods in Kamloops, Vernon and Kelowna.

Freezing levels are expected to rise from 600 metres early this afternoon to 2,000 metres later this evening.

“Most of the precipitation for the highways will fall as snow before turning to rain, with a risk of freezing rain during that transition, especially on the Coquihalla,” Sekhon says.

For the latest on road conditions go to the Drive B.C. website here.

For the latest warnings, watches and special weather statement go to Environment Canada's website here.

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.