Highway 5 about 15 kilometres south of Merritt at Comstock Road, looking north, at around 5:05 a.m. Monday (Image credit: DriveBC).

By Aaron Schulze

Coquihalla Watch

UPDATE: Kamloops drivers warned of icy conditions on surrounding highways

Mar 9, 2026 | 5:35 AM

UPDATE (9:00 a.m.): Kamloops and Tk’emlups Rural RCMP are asking the public to only travel on local highways if absolutely necessary due to treacherous conditions Monday.

In an advisory issued Monday morning, RCMP say highways surrounding Kamloops are extremely icy. Residents are asked to check road conditions before their embark on their commute.

“The Coquihalla [Highway] is now open following a closure due to a jack-knifed semi truck,” Tk’emlups Rural RCMP S/Sgt. Del Byron said.  “Transport trucks are still backed up on the highway leaving Kamloops.”

Additionally, residents are asked to clear dirt, ice and snow from their vehicles, keep an emergency kit and share their travel plans and routes with someone they trust.

UPDATE (7:00 a.m.): DriveBC says southbound traffic on the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt is expected to resume at around 7:30 a.m. Monday.

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EARLIER: MERRITT, B.C. — A snowfall warning is in effect for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt following a night of snowy chaos.

Environment Canada says around 15 to 20 centimetres of snow is expected for the stretch of Highway 5 Monday (March 9), with periods of heavy snow at times.

The weather agency says flurries are expected to taper off Monday night, although travel on the Coquihalla Highway will be challenging throughout the day. The snowfall is due to an upper low.

Meantime, southbound traffic remains halted on the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt Monday (March 9) morning.

DriveBC first reported of a vehicle incident on the stretch of Highway 5 at around 1:15 a.m. Monday. Northbound traffic is not impacted.

An assessment is underway, and a detour is available via Highway 1 from Kamloops to Cache Creek.

Another update from DriveBC is due at 6:00 a.m. Drivers can follow along here.

The closure comes after an afternoon of chaos on the Coquihalla Highway between Kamloops and Merritt as police reported numerous crashes late Sunday afternoon amid snowfall.

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