Special weather statements call for heavy snowfall tonight in Kamloops, Okanagan

Predictions of heavy snowfall has led Environment Canada to issue several special weather statements throughout Kamloops and the Okanagan.

A low pressure system is forecast to move into the area tonight, Jan. 4, according to Environment Canada. Ten to 20 centimetres of snow is expected to accumulate rapidly between then and tomorrow afternoon, and as much as 25 cm is expected along highways.

The snowfall will impact the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Kamloops, as well as the Okanagan Connector from Merritt to West Kelowna, and Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton.

The statement warns that the Thursday morning commute may be impacted, and reminds drivers that weather conditions can change suddenly in the mountains.

READ MORE: Extreme cold, dangerous wind chill, more snow for many parts of B.C.

And while enough snowfall is being forecast in Kamloops and the Okanagan for Environment Canada to merit a statement, more severe alerts were issued in other parts of the province.

In places like the Cassiar Mountains and Dease Lake in Northern B.C., temperatures including windchill could dip as low as -50 Celsius tonight. Even while the sun is shining, there will be “minimal relief” due to persistent winds, Environment Canada says.

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

For the latest on special weather statements, and other weather watches and warnings, go to Environment Canada's web page here.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dan Walton or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom 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.