Driving conditions remain difficult in the Thompson-Okanagan region
Snow, freezing rain, slushy and slippery sections are all present on Thompson-Okanagan highways today, Dec. 28, with some traffic advisories in effect.
DriveBC has issued traffic advisories for both sections for the Coquihalla Highway for different reasons.
From Merritt to Kamloops, the advisory is due to heavy snow and freezing rains. While only 2 cm of snow is forecast to accumulate by late this afternoon there will be gusty winds. Drivers are advised to only travel that route if essential.
On the Hope to Merritt stretch, from 12 km to 31 km north of the summit the advisory deals with the fact that traffic is back to two lanes in each direction with periodic lane closures and traffic stoppages.
There are slushy sections from 6 km south of the Great Bear Snowshed to Kamloops.
Periods of snow though late into the afternoon are forecast with accumulations up to 5 cm from Hope to Merritt with a snow level of 500 metres. It will also be windy through that stretch.
The Okanagan Connector has slushy and slippery sections from Merritt to West Kelowna with fog between the Pennask Summit and West Kelowna.
Two centimetres of snow are expected along the highway through to the afternoon and it will be windy.
Highway 3 has slushy and slippery sections from Princeton to 20 km east of Osoyoos.
Two centimetres of snow are expected, ending late in the afternoon. There is a chance of freezing rain early this morning.
Highway 97 has slushy and slippery sections from Okanagan Falls to Kelowna.
Highway 1 has slushy and slippery sections from 6 km east of Kamloops to 15 km east of Chase with compact snow from Sicamous to Revelstoke along with slushy and slippery sections.
From Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass 2-4 cm of snow are expected today.
Periods of rain ending this afternoon are forecast for Kamloops with wet snow at higher elevations. The snow level will rise to 800 metres near noon with a high today forecast at 4 Celsius.
Kelowna can expect periods of rain mixed with snow starting early this morning and ending this afternoon. The high temperature is expected to reach 3 C.
Sun Peaks Ski Resort has 19 cm of new snow, a temperature of -4 C and an alpine base of 129 cm.
Silver Star Mountain Resort is -3 C with 10 cm of new snow overnight and an alpine base of 142 cm.
Big White Ski Resort recorded 14 cm of snow in the last 24 hours for an alpine base of 123 cm and sits at -2 C this morning.
Apex Mountain Resort had 8 cm of new snow, is -5 C and has an alpine base of 167 cm.
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