WATCH: Despite the warnings not to venture out on the Coquihalla highway this weekend, some motorists were still caught off guard by the heavy spring snowfall. Jeremy Hunka reports.
Don’t put away those snow tires just yet.
Snow fell on the Coquihalla Highway continually over the weekend, causing plenty of delays and small accidents for those who didn’t prepare for the conditions – and even for those who did.
“It was coming down pretty good. Truckers were spinning out on the hill. Even with chains I was still slipping a little bit. It was wet and snowy, so it made conditions even worse,” said Dave Foley, a truck driver who made the trip Sunday.
“Visibility was a little bit lower than normal. For this time of year, it shouldn’t be like this.”
WATCH: The snow began to fall in earnest on Saturday.
In some places over 50 centimetres of snow fell over a 48-hour period, but those who take care of the highway say it wasn’t completely unexpected for this time of year.
“It’s not unusual. For April, we get storms coming through all the time,” says Steve Haller, a highway maintenance worker.
“You got to drive accordingly to road conditions. Make sure your tires are fine. Slow down when you see equipment crews working and emergency vehicles,” says Haller.
Some areas of Metro Vancouver experienced harsh weather conditions Sunday, with reports of hail in Maple Ridge and Langley.
