Atmospheric river expected to drench areas over next few days

Environment Canada has issued a number of weather warnings and advisories as a new milder, wetter weather system moves in.

The agency said an atmospheric river will reach B.C. today, which is expected to result in freezing rain on the Okanagan Connector between Kelowna and Merritt, beginning this evening and ending early Tuesday morning.

Heavy rain is forecast for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt over the same period, with 60 to 80 millimetres expected.

A winter storm warning is in effect for the Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass which could get 15 to 25 cm of snow Monday combined with ice pellets and a risk of freezing rain.

For the Okanagan, periods of rain are expected Monday (mixed with snow), Tuesday and Wednesday with daytime highs between 1 and 5 degrees.

Parts of Metro Vancouver, along with inland Vancouver Island and the Howe Sound region could get up to 100 millimetres of rain.

The Ministry of Transportation will close Highway 1 south of Lytton through the Fraser Canyon starting Monday at 7 p.m.

“The ministry’s geotechnical experts have recommended this closure as a precaution in case heavy precipitation overwhelms the area affected by this summer’s Kookipi Creek wildfire,” a government news release stated.

The highway will be closed between Boothroyd and Siska (approximately nine kilometres south of Lytton) until an assessment can be conducted mid-morning on Tuesday.

Checkpoints will be set up on Highway 1 just outside of Hope and Lytton to advise motorists about the detour routes and assist local traffic.