THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – If you have plans to drive to or from the Thompson-Okanagan this weekend you better still have winter tires on your vehicle.

Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement warning of snow on the upper elevation highways.

About 15 cm of snow is expected on the Okanagan Connector summit and the Kootenay Pass overnight and on Sunday.

A cooler and unsettle air mass has parked itself over the Southern Interior. The valleys are getting rain, while the higher elevations are getting wet snow.

Meanwhile, wet snow that was falling over the Rogers Pass and the Eagle Pass along the Trans Canada Highway Saturday morning has turned to rain. Forecasters warn that could change back to wet snow overnight as the temperature drops. The pass could get between 5 to 10 cm of snow by Sunday morning.

Winter is back with a vengeance the closer you get to Alberta. A snowfall warning has been issued for both Yoho Park and Kootenay Park. Between 10 to 15 cm of snow has already fallen with another 15 cm expected Saturday.

Environment Canada recommends you adjust your driving with the changing road conditions. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.

Check out Drive B.C. for the lastest road conditions before heading out.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infotelnews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.