A snowfall warning has been issued for three highways in B.C.’s Southern Interior.
Environment Canada says snowfall amounts of 15 to 20 cm are expected Thursday along the Coquihalla Highway (Hope to Merritt), Highway 3 (Hope to Princeton) and Okanagan Connector (Merritt to Kelowna).
The national weather agency says an incoming atmospheric river will bring heavy snow to high-elevation mountain passes beginning Thursday afternoon.
“Gusty southwesterly winds will further reduce visibility in blowing snow,” added Environment Canada, noting that freezing levels will rise above 2,000 metres on Friday afternoon.
Further east along Highway 3, 15-25 cm are expected to fall from Thursday night to Saturday morning from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.
“Snow will begin over the highway this evening, with up to 5 cm expected by Friday morning,” said Environment Canada. “As snow begins to intensify on midday Friday, so too will southwesterly winds gusting to 40 km/h.
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“Rising freezing levels combined with southwesterly winds gusting up to 40 km/h will change precipitation to rain mixed with snow Friday evening. As temperatures begin to cool Friday overnight, precipitation will revert back to snow and continue until Saturday morning.”
The summit along the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt has an elevation of 1,230 metres.
The Okanagan Connector has a peak elevation of 1,717 metres (Pennask Summit).
Along Highway 3, there are two passes between Hope and Princeton above 1,000 metres: Allison Pass (1,343 metres) and Sunday Summit (1,289 metres).
Paulson Summit, which is between Grand Forks and Trail, has an elevation of 1,446 metres, while Kootenay Pass, which is between Salmo and Creston, has an elevation of 1,781 metres.
Motorists are told to prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.
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