UPDATE: Environment Canada has extended its snowfall warning for highway passes in B.C.’s Southern Interior.
On Wednesday morning, the national weather service issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Highway, from Hope to Merritt; and for Highway 3, from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.
It said up to 25 centimetres was possible overnight and into Thursday, but that snow would ease in intensity that day.
On Thursday morning, though, Environment Canada extended its warning. It said snow will continue throughout Thursday, and into the night, as the weather system passes through the region.
The warning includes the Fraser Valley, Fraser Canyon, Nicola, Boundary, West Kootenay and Kootenay Lake regions.
“The heavy snow will ease in intensity early Friday morning,” Environment Canada said in its warning. “Snow levels will remain near valley bottom, except near Hope where rain is expected.”
Environment Canada added that total snowfall amounts of 20 cm are expected before the system tapers off early Friday morning.
There is also a snowfall warning for the Peace River region, in B.C.’s north, where 10-15 cm of snow is expected.
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A snowfall warning has been issued for the Coquihalla Highway plus a section of Highway 3.
Environment Canada is forecasting heavy snow for the next 24 hours, and is predicting up to 25 centimetres for the mountain highways.
The Coquihalla warning is from Hope to Merritt, and motorists are being asked to be prepared for the weather and to adjust their driving to the road conditions.
The Highway 3 warning is for the Boundary and West Kootenay regions, from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.
“A Pacific weather system will bring snow along sections of the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt,” Environment Canada said in its warning, which was issued at 4:53 a.m., on Wednesday.
“Snow will increase in intensity overnight and continue into Thursday morning as the system passes through the region. The heavy snow will ease in intensity through Thursday, but periods of snow are still expected.”
The national weather service added that “snow levels will remain near the valley bottom, except near Hope where rain is expected. Total snow amounts up to 25 cm may fall during the event for tonight and Thursday.”
For Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass, Environment Canada is predicting snowfall of 15 to 25 cm.
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