'Consider postponing non-essential travel,' Environment Canada warns as B.C. storm moves inland

Rainfall warnings have been lifted in the Lower Mainland, but the storm that brought them has now prompted Environment and Climate Change Canada to advise against non-essential travel on two highways in B.C.'s Interior.
The weather agency issued winter storm warnings for the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt and Highway 3 from Paulson Summit to Kootenay Pass Tuesday morning, saying "hazardous winter conditions are expected."
"A frontal system moving across the B.C. Interior will give heavy snow to southern highway passes," the warning reads. "Light snow this morning will intensify later in the day. The snow will abate Wednesday morning as the system exits the region."
On the Coquihalla, snow is expected to be mainly near the summit, with precipitation below 1,200 metres in elevation forecast to fall as rain.
Snow levels along the highway are expected to drop to 600 metres Tuesday evening, according to ECCC.
On Highway 3, 15 centimetres of snow are expected near Paulson Summit, while accumulations are "likely to exceed 25 centimetres" over Kootenay Pass, the agency said.
"Consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve," the advisory reads. "Rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult over some locations. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow."
Environment Canada recommends checking DriveBC for the latest information on road conditions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Targeted inflation relief' coming in 2023 federal budget, Freeland says
The coming 2023 federal budget will 'exercise fiscal restraint' while also making 'significant' investments in health and building Canada's clean economy, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday.

2 staff members, student suspect injured in stabbing at Halifax-area high school
Two staff members and a student -- who is also the suspect -- have been injured in a stabbing at a high school in Bedford, N.S., according to the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE).
'Absolutely disgusting': B.C. councillor speaks out after Sikh international student swarmed, beaten
An international student was swarmed and beaten by a group of people who ripped off his turban and dragged him across the sidewalk by his hair in Kelowna, B.C., Friday evening, according to a local politician.
Fatal fire in Old Montreal raises questions about unauthorized Airbnbs
Mayor Valerie Plante said Monday she requested a meeting with an Airbnb executive after a building in Old Montreal — a short-term rental hot spot — was destroyed by a fire that has left six people missing.
W5 Investigates | How did a healthy teen die at a minor hockey camp?
The parents of young Ontario hockey player Ben Teague have been searching for answers since he died while at a team retreat in 2019. The mystery about what happened and the code of silence in hockey culture is explored in CTV W5's 'What Happened to Ben,' on CTVNews.ca and W5's official YouTube channel.
Conservatives forcing MPs to vote on striking new foreign interference study
In an effort to keep the foreign interference story at the forefront, and to do an apparent end run around the Liberal filibuster blocking one study from going ahead, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has forced the House to spend the day debating a motion instructing an opposition-dominated House committee to strike its own review.
Spring backwards? Why next spring will come earlier than it has in nearly 130 years
In the previous century, the spring equinox typically fell on March 21, but the first day of spring has slowly been moving. Here's why next year it will fall on March 19, for the first time since the 1800s.
Nexus program to resume by April 24 after yearlong standoff
The federal government says the Nexus trusted-traveller program will fully ramp back up within five weeks, allowing frequent border crossers to complete their applications and speed up their trips.
Amazon cuts 9,000 more jobs, bringing 2023 total to 27,000
Amazon plans to eliminate 9,000 more jobs in the next few weeks, CEO Andy Jassy said in a memo to staff on Monday.