Delay your weekend travel if you can

Hold off your highway travel plans until later this long weekend if you can.

That’s the message from Environment Canada as yet another storm system sweeps over the province bringing up to 20 cm of snow to higher elevation routes such as the Coquihalla.

Even in the valley bottom, the latest weather system has been eventful with Kelowna and Lake Country RCMP responding to a collision on Highway 97 north near the Ellison Lake pull-out where a semi-truck jackknifed.

While the weather will remain unpredictable, especially in the mountain passes, Alyssa Charbonneau, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada said a frontal system hit the B.C. coast Friday, which means rain for the Lower Mainland, but snow here, and especially at elevation.

“We have periods of snow forecast between Hope and Merritt on the Coquihalla, [with] 10cm to 20cm or more expected, today, tonight and into Saturday,” Charbonneau explained.

However, the snow is expected to taper off along Highway 97C by the end of Friday, with around 5 cm, but there may be gusting winds Saturday.

Things look better for travel on Sunday and Monday.

“We have a bit of a drying trend. We’re not expecting much snowfall,” she said. “Temperatures will still be below freezing, so absolutely, you need to take care and prepare for winter driving conditions.”

Charbonneau said, as always, weather conditions can change rapidly on the mountain passes and it’s important for motorists to check DriveBC before heading out and to carry an emergency kit.