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May Long Snow

Environment Canada calling for snow on B.C. mountain passes this May long weekend

May 17, 2025 | 1:49 PM

KAMLOOPS — It may be the Victoria Day long weekend, but Environment Canada is calling for up to 5 cm of snow on some B.C. highway passes.

The weather agency has issued a special weather statement for the entire Coquihalla Highway from Kamloops to Hope, as well as the Okanagan Connector from Merritt to Kelowna and Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton via the Allison Pass and from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass.

It says wet flurries are possible overnight Saturday (May 17) until Sunday morning as an upper disturbance passing through the B.C. interior is expected to drop snow levels to around 1500 meters tonight.

“Snowfall accumulations will be minimal, from trace to 5 cm,” Environment Canada said.

At lower elevation, Environment Canada is calling for rain in the Kamloops area through the weekend. As of the forecast issued at 11:00 a.m. Sunday, there was a risk of a thunderstorm Saturday afternoon and evening, with showers then expected on Sunday and Monday.

The forecast is calling for a sunny sky on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week.

The Kamloops weather forecast as of 11 a.m. on May 17, 2025. (Image Credit: Environment Canada)

As winter tires are not mandatory on any B.C. highway between May 1 and Sept. 30, people are urged to be caution as weather conditions may change quickly at higher elevation.

You can find the latest road conditions at DriveBC here, and the latest weather alerts from Environment Canada here.