Winter driving on Coquihalla, Okanagan Connector; snowfall warnings issued

A heavy snowfall warning has been issued by Environment Canada for the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt and on the Okanagan Connector.

Accumulations are forecast to be 15 to 20 centimetres with the higher amounts in the Pennask Summit area of the Okanagan Connector. The snow is expected to turn to rain around noon today, Oct. 28, continuing through into the night.

A special weather statement has also been issued for Kootenay mountain passes with 10 to 15 cm of snow expected in Rogers Pass, Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass

The snow is expected to change to rain around midday today for the Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass.

Intense rain over the Kootenay Pass will continue through Friday morning with amounts up to 40 millimetres expected.

The freezing levels through Rogers Pass are expected to rise this afternoon then drop to 1,200 metres tonight. That means the snow should turn to rain then back to snow this evening with as much as 10 cm expected to accumulate at the summit tonight.

Travellers can check road conditions at Drive B.C.

For the latest on public weather alerts check out this Environment Canada web page.

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