UPDATE: Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt remains closed due to vehicle incidents and heavy snow

(UPDATE 7:46 p.m.) Drive BC says the Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Hope remains closed due to poor weather conditions.

Environment Canada said that 10 to 15 cm of snow is forecast with drifting snow and high winds.

A similar snowfall warning is also in effect for the Fraser Canyon.

More to come…

MERRITT —(UPDATED 10:30 a.m.)    DriveBC says the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt is expected to reopen at 12:30 p.m.

Another snowfall warning is in effect for the stretch of Highway 5, though, as 10 to 15 centimetres is expected on Wednesday (Dec. 24). Environment Canada says snow is expected to begin early in the morning and intensify later in the day.

A similar snowfall warning is also in effect for the Fraser Canyon. Environment Canada says road closures are possible.

(UPDATE 6:45 p.m.): A snowfall warning on the Hope to Merritt section of the Coquihalla Highway is into its fifth day, and Environment Canada says more snow is on the way.

The weather agency is forecasting that between 10 and 20 cm of snow will fall Monday (Dec. 22) night, with snow accumulations of 15 cm expected at the Coquihalla Summit. The snow is expected to taper to a few flurries Tuesday morning.

“Another weather system will bring snow to the highway again tonight,” Environment Canada said. “Light snow from the system will intensify this evening.”

“Travel will likely be challenging. Roads and walkways will likely be difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow. Visibility will likely be reduced at times.”

A travel advisory was issued at about 6:30 p.m., and DriveBC says the “forecasted intense” snow is expected to begin at 8:00 p.m.

“Expect delays and slow moving plows and equipment working, the advisory said. “Do not pass working plows on the right.”

According to Yellowhead Road and Bridge (YRB) Nicola, which is responsible for clearing the highway from the Logan Lake turnoff near Kamloops to the Great Bear Snowshed, over two metres of snow has fallen at the Coquihalla Summit over the last seven days.

“Definitely winter conditions up on the Coquihalla,” YRB Nicola General Manager Dave Duncan told CFJC, as he pleaded with drivers to not pass plows on the right after a plow was run off the road over the weekend.

DriveBC is currently reporting slippery sections with compact snow on the Coquihalla between Exit 202: Portia and Exit 256: Coldwater, and compact snow between the Coldwater exit and Exit 286: Merritt.

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