Snowfall warning issued for Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt

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, with the city’s RCMP detachment reporting numerous crashes on the roadway late Sunday afternoon amid snowfall.

More to come.