Winter storm watch in place for Coquihalla over the weekend

A winter storm watch has been issued for the Coquihalla highway between Hope and Merritt.

Environment Canada stated an arctic front will bring heavy snow at times and strong winds over the weekend, which is expected to reduce visibility and road conditions.

The forecast calls for light snow starting Saturday (Dec. 17) and intensifying over the evening.

A total of 20 centimetres of snow is expected before the heavy snow eases Sunday afternoon.

The weather agency advises people avoid travel if possible, as the rapidly accumulating snow may make travel difficult in some locations and visibility may be impacted by blowing snow.

People travelling on the highway during the snow storm are advised to check the weather forecast and the road conditions at DriveBC prior to getting behind the wheel.

Travellers are also encouraged to carry emergency supplies in their vehicles inc ase of an incident. Details on what to keep in the kits can be found at the Shift Into Winter website.

Winter tires and chain up regulations are in effect on the Coquihalla until April 30, 2023.