Hazardous winter conditions are expected across the Okanagan and Shuswap today, according to Environment Canada.
“A moist Pacific frontal system will bring heavy snow to the southwestern interior. The snow will intensify later this morning and will ease Wednesday morning,” reads the alert.
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RELATED: CITY READY FOR BIG SNOWFALL
General snowfall accumulation of 20 to 25 cm is expected in Merritt and Kelowna while near Westbank and Peachland, snowfall totals could reach 35 cm by Wednesday morning.
Meteorologists report a deepening Pacific low pressure system will track across northern Washington state.
“This system will combine plentiful moisture with cool northerly winds near the surface,” according 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.
Related: B.C. Interior highways treacherous
A break in the weather is forecast later Wednesday before an Arctic front sweeps through on Thursday.
The Arctic front will bring a few flurries and, more noticeably, colder air to the Southern Interior for the rest of the week.
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This, of course, means highway travel could be treacherous. There are warnings in effect for:Coquihalla Highway – Hope to MerrittCoquihalla Highway – Merritt to KamloopsHighway 3 – Hope to Princeton via Allison PassHighway 3 – Paulson Summit to Kootenay PassOkanagan Connector – Merritt to Kelowna
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Environment Canada recommends considering postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Take extra care when walking or driving in affected areas.
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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