Snow Warning For Coquihalla

It looks real nasty on the mountain highway

January 6 2025 - Snow has been steadily piling up on Highway 5 between Hope and Kamloops, with more on the way as a multi-day winter system continues to impact high-elevation sections of the route.

At the Coquihalla Summit Tuesday afternoon, temperatures hovered around -2°C, with nearly 13 centimetres of snow recorded since early morning. An additional 2 centimetres fell in just the last hour, accompanied by northwest winds gusting up to 25 km/h. Road surface temperatures are expected to remain well below freezing through the night and into Wednesday morning.

Conditions are even colder at higher elevations. At Great Bear Summit above the snowsheds, temperatures were sitting at -5°C Tuesday afternoon, reinforcing concerns about icy and snow-covered travel conditions.

Environment Canada has issued a Yellow Snowfall Warning for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, calling for a long-duration snowfall event with total accumulations of around 30 centimetres through Wednesday.

Snow is expected to fall at times heavily today, with local blowing snow and windy conditions. Another 10 to 15 centimetres is forecast overnight, followed by additional snowfall on Wednesday.

Between Merritt and Kamloops, snowfall amounts are expected to be lighter, with 2 to 4 centimetres today before tapering off this afternoon. However, gusty winds and the chance of flurries will continue into Wednesday.

Officials warn that weather conditions in the mountains can change rapidly, creating hazardous driving conditions with little notice. Drivers are urged to adjust their winter driving behaviour and ensure proper winter tires and chains are in place before making the trip.

Motorists are advised to check current road conditions and forecasts before travelling, especially if planning to drive the Coquihalla today or over the next couple of days.