Early snow falls on B.C. highways; drivers warned to watch for changing weather
Drivers travelling between B.C.'s Lower Mainland and Interior are being warned to watch for changing road conditions after late-summer snow fell on multiple highways.
The province's transportation ministry posted to social media Wednesday evening warning drivers of the state of multiple highway stretches.
DriveBC said on Twitter the Okanagan Connector, which stretches between Merritt and Peachland, "skipped pumpkin spice" season and has "gone directly to snow."
Images shared of the highway at about 7 p.m. showed the area near Elkhart covered in white. By the next morning, the sky looked clear and the roads were plowed but snow remained on the side of the highway.
Meanwhile, part of the Coquihalla Highway was also hit by snow between Merritt and Hope. Images taken from Mine Creek showed falling flakes, though it's unclear how much actually accumulated.
It's still summer for about a week and winter tire requirements don't come into effect until Oct. 1 in B.C. Starting that day, chains or winter tires are required on most highway routes in the province.
Those rules remain until April 30, except for some highways not located in mountain passes or high snowfall areas. In those regions, the requirements end March 31.
"These routes are marked with regulatory signs posted on highways throughout the province," B.C.'s transportation ministry says. "We reserve the right to restrict travel at any time of the year depending on road conditions."
Drivers who don't have winter tires or chains on when required may be turned away and fined.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Fluid in eye cells can 'boil' if you watch the eclipse without protection: expert
Millions of people in parts of Eastern and Atlantic Canada will be able to see the rare solar eclipse happening on April 8. But they should only look up if they have proper eye protection, experts say.
He didn't trust police but sought their help anyway. Two days later, he was dead
Jameek Lowery was among more than 330 Black people who died after police stopped them with tactics that aren’t supposed to be deadly, like physical restraint and use of stun guns, The Associated Press found.
CRA no longer requiring 'bare trust' reporting in 2023 tax return
The Canada Revenue Agency announced Thursday it will not require 'bare trust' reporting from Canadians that it introduced for the 2024 tax season, just four days before the April 2 deadline.
Being harassed at work? What to consider when deciding what to do next
If you've been the victim of workplace harassment, it can be difficult to feel you're not alone - and even more difficult to know where to go with a complaint.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Half of Canadians support TikTok ban, with U.S. concerns 'trickling' north: poll
A new poll indicates 51 per cent of Canadians support banning the social media app TikTok, after a U.S. bill aiming to do just that passed in the House of Representatives.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
More unauthorized products for skin, sexual enhancement, recalled: Here are the recalls of this week
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency recalled various items this week, including torches, beef biltong and unauthorized products related to skin care and sexual enhancement.