The snow is coming down in parts of Southern B.C. and the highways are beginning to look treacherous.
DriveBC has travel advisories in effect for a large chunk of Southern Interior highways with RCMP and meteorologists advising motorists to avoid travel today if possible.
And here's a look at our weather station atop #Coquihalla #BCHwy5. Snowing heavily, likely upwards of 40CMS today. The @BCRCMP said it best: If you don't need to, DON'T!! #DriveBC #ShiftIntoWinter or rather #ShiftIntoACoffeeShop #BCstorm pic.twitter.com/DbvJUWZAop
— ECCC Weather BC (@ECCCWeatherBC) December 19, 2017
DriveBC is warning of heavy snowfall on Highway 3 from Hope to Castlegar, Highway 5 (Coquihalla) from Hope to Kamloops and Highway 97C between Merritt and West Kelowna.
The weather began to wreak havoc on area highways yesterday causing a handful of serious accidents and highway closures.
- The Coquihalla was closed in both directions due to a multi-vehicle crash
- Highway 1 was closed west of Revelstoke due to a crash
- Highway 97 closed near 103 Mile closed for a period of time
#BCHwy5 Chain up in effect for commercial vehicles Northbound at Box Canyon. #Coquihalla
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) December 19, 2017
Meteorologists report a deepening Pacific low pressure system will track across northern Washington state.
Related: Okanagan-Shuswap to be hit with heavy snowfall
“This system will combine plentiful moisture with cool northerly winds near the surface,” writes Environment Canada. “The result will be heavy snow continuing through Wednesday morning for most communities in the southwestern interior and Kootenays.”
Winter Storm warnings are in effect now for the Nicola, Central Okanagan, Boundary, West Kootenay and Elk Valley.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ec.tempetepacifique-pacificstorm.ec@canada.ca or tweet reports using #BCStorm.
For more information on driving in winter conditions, click here.
For up to date details on highway conditions and road closures check DriveBC.
You can also monitor Environment Canada for alerts, warnings and updated forecasts.
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