Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings for several major highways in the British Columbia Interior, just ahead of the Victoria Day long weekend. The alerts, which took effect Thursday evening, cover the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, the Okanagan Connector from Merritt to Kelowna, and Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton through Allison Pass.
Expected Accumulations
Forecasters predict between 10 and 15 centimeters of snow for the higher elevations of these routes, with the heaviest snowfall expected overnight Thursday into Friday morning. Drivers are advised to be prepared for rapidly changing road conditions, reduced visibility, and possible delays.
Travel Advisory
The B.C. Ministry of Transportation urges motorists to check current road conditions before departing and to carry winter tires or chains if traveling through the affected areas. The weather system is expected to move out by Saturday, but lingering flurries may persist in some regions.
This late-season snowfall is unusual for mid-May, but not unprecedented in the mountainous regions of the province. Last year, similar weather patterns caused significant travel disruptions during the same holiday weekend.
