Highways close as winter storm blasts southern B.C. ahead of Christmas travel weekend

UPDATES: Mountain highways in southern B.C. face closures amid heavy snow

The Coquihalla Highway has reopened after an overnight closure due to separate vehicle incidents amid heavy snow.

Southbound lanes on the stretch of Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt reopened just after midnight PT and northbound lanes reopened just after 4 a.m. ​​​DriveBC says to expect delays of up to an hour as traffic starts moving again.

Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton has been closed in both directions since 11 p.m. PT Thursday.

DriveBC said there is no estimated time of reopening yet.

Weather warnings issued

Environment Canada has issued weather warnings for much of southern B.C., including a number of major mountain highways, as hazardous winter storm conditions sweep the province ahead of the Christmas travel weekend.

The heavy snowfall hit the southern Interior late Thursday afternoon and is expected to continue overnight as a frontal system stalls over the region. 

Up to 75 centimetres of snow is expected to fall by Saturday afternoon in areas of the Fraser Canyon, Nicola and Fraser Valley.

Some commuters trapped on the roads during the delays reported snow rapidly piling up on windscreens and hoods.

Both directions of Highway 3 at Allison Pass Summit near Manning Park were also closed for several hours Thursday evening. Traffic was also reduced to one lane on Highway 5A near Princeton, in southern B.C. 

Environment Canada is expecting between 30 and 60 centimetres of snow in several elevated areas by late Friday afternoon, making travel and visibility difficult.

Lower elevations could see around 15 centimetres of snow.

Two B.C. Ferries sailings between Vancouver and Nanaimo were cancelled Thursday afternoon due to bad weather and resumed with a modified scheduled by evening.

Meanwhile, rainy, windy weather in the Lower Mainland led to postponement of outdoor events like the Gastown Not-So-Silent Nights in Vancouver.

The Coquihalla Highway and Okanagan Connector remain under winter storm warnings, as are parts of highways 1 and 3.

Wintry weather and sudden snow squalls can make mountain highways treacherous and drivers are reminded to slow down and drive for the conditions.

• Find the full list of weather warnings here.

'Full-on winter conditions'

"We are looking at full-on winter conditions out there, so drivers need to be aware ... winter driving conditions will be in full effect," said Lisa Ervine, meteorologist with Environment Canada.

The agency recommends drivers pack an emergency kit in the car with water, food, medications, first-aid kits and a flashlight in case they get stuck on the road. Winter tire regulations are also in effect with mountain-snowflake tires recommended for rural highways and mountain passes, and mud and snow tires, marked with an M+S symbol, appropriate for most South Coast roads. 

A rainfall warning is also in effect for the Fraser Valley, with up to 70 millimetres forecast.