Snowfall warning: Up to 30 cm expected for Coquihalla Highway over 24 hours

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt.

Over the next 24 hours, between 20 cm and 30 cm is expected to fall on the high-elevation mountain highway route, with the strong Pacific storm moving across the area Friday night and throughout Saturday.

Rainfall on Friday evening will transition to snowfall closer to midnight.

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According to a bulletin by the federal meteorological agency, heavy snow at times will fall through the night before easing slightly on Saturday. By Saturday evening, the snow should change over to a few flurries.

“Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Rapidly accumulating snow will make travel difficult,” reads the bulletin.

“If visibility is reduced while driving, turn on your lights and maintain a safe following distance. Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions.”

The same storm system brought heavy rainfall and high winds to Metro Vancouver today. While the rainfall warning has ended, a wind warning remains in effect.

Over the early morning hours of Saturday, the winds will shift to southwesterly, with areas near Juan de Fuca Strait seeing winds reach 70 km/hr. Winds will also remain particularly strong near Boundary Bay and Surrey’s southern areas.

The winds are expected to slowly ease through Saturday afternoon.