UPDATE: 7:20 a.m.
A snowfall warning for Southern Interior highways has been extended to include the Revelstoke area and Highway 1.
Total amounts of 20 to 25 centimetres are expected, with rapidly accumulating snow and rain on snow this afternoon.
“Heavy snow continues today as a warm front moves through the area,” Environment Canada says.
The warnings come as Avalanche Canada raises the risk to high over much of the south coast and southern Interior.
It says all the new snow, combined with strong winds and warmer temperatures, will create “very dangerous” avalanche conditions, with large, naturally triggered slides likely.
Twelve people have died in six separate avalanches around southern B.C. since January, and Avalanche Canada continues to warn people to make “conservative, low-consequence choices” if they head into the backcountry at all.
ORIGINAL: 6:20 a.m.
Heavy snow is expected on Highway 3 at Allison Pass today.
Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the highway while continuing a warning for the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt.
Snowfall of between 15 and 25 centimetres is expected today through Tuesday morning.
Environment Canada predicts challenging driving conditions due to accumulating snow and changes in precipitation from snow to rain and back to snow.
Tuesday morning will see snow levels fall to the valley bottoms in the wake of the cold front, and wet roads may become slippery as the frontal system passes through.
“As the warm front approaches, snow levels will rise to near 1,000 metres. Snow will change to rain below this elevation but will remain as snow and accumulate above this elevation,” the forecaster says.
“As the cold front pushes through tonight, the snow will briefly intensify. In the wake of the cold front early Tuesday morning, skies may clear, resulting in the potential for rain or snow to freeze to surfaces. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions.”
Prepare for quickly changing and deteriorating travel conditions.