Coquihalla Highway to get another huge dump of snow

Motorists intending to use mountain passes in and out of the Thompson and Okanagan valleys might want to delay their trips for a day, as a Pacific frontal system approaches the B.C. interior this afternoon.

Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist says the next 24 hours should see significant snow accumulations on the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt and Highway 3 on Allison Pass.

The weather office is calling for 5 cm of snow on the Hope-Princeton today, 10 cm tonight and an additional 5 cm tomorrow.

“That’s 20 cm for Highway 3. On the Hope to Merritt, we’re calling for 2 to 4 cm today, 5 to 10 cm tonight and another 5 cm tomorrow, which is just under the criteria for a snowfall warning,” Lundquist said this afternoon, Jan. 5.

“People should perhaps wait until things improve. It should be much better driving conditions by this time tomorrow afternoon,” Lundquist says.

The Weather Network, meanwhile, is calling for up to 30 cms of snow in the same time period.

In addition to the winter weather, a lengthy section of the Coquihalla will also be closed for avalanche control as well tonight – another reason to wait things out.

Motorists can monitor road conditions at Drive BC.

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