File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)
Coquihalla Highway

Coquihalla contractor expecting heavy overnight snow on highways

Jan 5, 2021 | 3:17 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — Yellowhead Road and Bridge is expecting a heavy weather system to come in Tuesday evening (Jan. 5) and into Wednesday morning. Heaviest snowfall is expected for the Coquihalla Summit (South).

Light snow starting around the Summit around 2:00-to-3:00 p.m. and carries on eastward through the area as the afternoon goes on.

Expecting rather large snow accumulations for the area with snow becoming moderate at times through the night before breaking up around 3:00-to-5:00 a.m. for the lower elevation portions and breaking up around 7:00-to-8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning for the Coquihalla Summit and Pennask.

  • Highway 5 South from Merritt to the Snow Shed Hill – Anticipated accumulations of 20-35cm tonight and throughout the early morning hours.
  • Highway 97C – Okanagan Connector – Potential accumulations of 10-20cm tonight and into the morning.
  • Highway 5 North from Merritt to Lac Le Jeune – Anticipated accumulations of 5-10cm tonight into tomorrow morning.

Snowfall will be service-area wide, so please drive to conditions. Plow trucks will be out removing snow and restoring traction as well as putting out chemicals to help prevent icy conditions.

When flashing lights are on, our trucks are in “Winter Work Mode” and require extra room to perform their necessary duties. Remember to never pass a plow truck on the right and road conditions in front of the plow truck will be worse than behind it.