Snow on Coquihalla (Image credit: Kent Simmonds/CFJC)
WINTER WEATHER

As snow hits Kamloops, tire switch appointments scarce

Nov 3, 2022 | 4:15 PM

KAMLOOPS — Wintery conditions are here. With snow hitting higher elevations Thursday (November 3), Kamloops residents are getting their winter tires switched over, preparing for slippery roads.

Integra Tire on the North Shore is completely booked for appointments and fields a few hundred phone calls each day trying to book appointments.

“It’s difficult because we have to turn people away each day. We only have so much room and once appointments get filled up, then we have to push people back a little bit. Now, appointments are booked now for about six-to-eight days ahead,” says Integra Tire Owner Mike Donaldson.

At each Integra Tire location, Donaldson says they run through 50-to-60 vehicles per day, changing tires through the busy season.

Environment Canada says snow will fall on regional highways tonight.

“We do have a snowfall warning in effect for the Coquihalla as well as other Interior highway passes for 15-20 cm of snow to be expected today and tonight,” Meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau told CFJC Today.

She adds freezing levels will rise overnight so that snow will turn into slush. This is a dramatic shift from October when many temperature records were broken.

“We were really looking at summer-like conditions not that long ago. Now, as we look into the forecast for next week we’re going to be dropping around near 10 degrees below normal. It’s actually a big swing in temperatures.”

Temperatures are expected to dip below -10 Celsius next week as snow will fall over the upcoming weekend.

B.C. drivers are advised to be prepared and drive to the conditions.

“It is winter driving conditions on our highway passes, so for anyone who is travelling, be prepared to face winter driving conditions and be very careful,” says Charbonneau.

“If you’re driving out of town and on the Coquihalla up the to the ski hills — winter tires, the actual winter tire with the mountain and snowflake is the best option. It works the best; there’s no doubt about it,” adds Donaldson.