The mercury may be higher this afternoon than what the Okanagan has seen in recent weeks, but BC’s highway system isn’t out of the woods just yet.

Environment Canada ended a special weather statement and freezing rain warning for the Okanagan at 2 p.m. on December 26 after its early morning entry into force.

Flooding is now a major problem on major thoroughfares including the Okanagan Connector as well as the Coquihalla Highway as temperatures soar above freezing.

⚠️ Beware of water accumulation due to rising temperatures and rainfall across the region. Please reduce your speed when driving on motorways. The crews are working hard to clear the snow so the water can drain. @DriveBC ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/odr3oYMHNk

— YRB Nicola Ltd (@YRBNicola) December 26, 2022

Despite the warmer weather, there will still be heavy snowfall at higher elevations along the highway system tonight. The “Coquihalla Protocol” is scheduled to come into force along the highway tonight. 5, which is a series of measurements taken when heavy snowfall was expected, with a forecast of 10 to 20 cm of snow accompanied by freezing rain.

Although the Okanagan Connector warning has ended, freezing rain is still possible tonight with Environment Canada also forecasting up to 10cm of snow.

Motorists are being warned to use mountain roads only when necessary after a particularly dangerous Bank Holiday weekend, including a quadruple death in a single-vehicle Ebus crash on Christmas Eve.

@JakeC_16
Jake.courtepatte@kelowacapnews.com
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