Highway 5 near Box Canyon Chain Up, looking north, at around 5:50 a.m. Monday (Image Credit: DriveBC)

By Aaron Schulze

Highway Watch

Pair of major highways close as a precaution; rainfall warning issued for Coquihalla Highway

Dec 15, 2025 | 6:06 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — A pair of major highways connecting the Interior and the Lower Mainland were closed overnight as a precaution due to heavy rain in the forecast. 

B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Transit proactively closed the Trans-Canada Highway between Hope and Lytton at 10:00 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 14) while Highway 99 from Lillooet to Pemberton was closed a few hours earlier at 8:00 p.m. 

“There are known slide areas along both highways, as well as slopes damaged by recent wildfires,” a statement from the Ministry of Transportation and Transit said. “These proactive closures are due to the risk of rockfall, debris flows and washouts as a result of heavy rain and snowpack melt.”

Both highways will be assessed later this morning, and they’re both expected to reopen at some point Monday, pending any overnight landslides or other issues.

Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton remains closed due to debris on the road. 

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The Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt remains open, although Environment Canada has issued a orange level rainfall warning as it notes 60 to 80 millimetres of precipitation is expected today, once a stronger frontal system moves in.

“The heaviest rainfall amounts are expected on Monday with freezing levels rising to 2500 metres by Monday afternoon,” the weather agency said. “Strong and gusty southerly winds Monday morning shift to southwesterly Monday afternoon.”

Rainfall is expected to ease early Monday night as a strong frontal system moves off.

“Localized flooding is likely,” Environment Canada added. “Some roads may become impassable. Landslides may occur in vulnerable areas such as steep slopes, deforested areas or recent burn scars.”

The weather agency notes travel delays and cancellations are likely on the stretch of Highway 5.  

A yellow level rainfall warning is also in effect for the Fraser Canyon as between 40 and 60 millimetres of precipitation is expected to fall Monday.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre has issued a flood watch for the Lower Fraser basin, including the Lillooet River and tributaries around the Fraser Canyon, at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.

You can find the latest weather alerts from Environment Canada here and the latest on highway conditions from DriveBC here.