Weather alert issued with up to 15 cm of snow expected on BC Interior highways

BC Interior highways will be hit with a blast of winter weather this weekend.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for several highways in the southern interior, which calls for “high snowfall amounts for mountain passes.”

Included in the alert are the Coquihalla Highway (Hwy 5), Okanagan Connector (Hwy 97C), Trans-Canada Highway (Hwy 1) and Hope-Princeton (Hwy 3).

A separate snowfall warning is in place for Hwy 3 through the Kootenays

“A pacific frontal system is forecast to bring snow to the mountain passes,” Environment Canada warns.

“Snow levels are forecast to rise overnight; however , they will stay below the pass summits. Ten to 15 centimetres (of) snow is forecast overnight.”

The timeline for the snow is Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning, notes the federal weather agency.

A separate snowfall warning is in place for Hwy 3 through the Kootenays, with between 15-25 cm of snow in the forecast.

There was already one highway closure to kick off the weekend, as slick conditions produced a crash on Hwy 97C late Friday night.

According to DriveBC, the route between Kelowna and Merritt shut down around 7 pm and reopened to traffic shortly before 10 pm.

Travellers are urged to prepare for winter driving conditions and Environment Canada notes that visibility will be reduced at times at higher elevations.

You can always check DriveBC for the latest on highway conditions and closures.