Snowfall warnings issued for highways in B.C.'s Interior, North

Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings for much of B.C.'s Interior and Northern region as an atmospheric river is expected to bring up to 25 centimetres of snow in some places. 

As of 8:30 p.m., DriveBC reported winter driving conditions for highways 3, 5 and 43. Anyone planning to travel in the coming days is advised to plan ahead and check DriveBC's website for information about their route, as visibility will be limited due to blowing snow and weather could change suddenly. 

Environment Canada says rapidly accumulating snow could make travel difficult. 

Flurries began on Thursday and are expected to last until Friday afternoon. As temperatures warm on Friday, that snow will likely become rainfall. 

Some Interior communities could see daytime highs as low as –15 C next week, according to Environment Canada forecasts. The temperature in Prince George could drop to –26 C on Wednesday night, one degree higher than the historically lowest temperature of –27.2 C.

Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist Derek Lee says the early wintry weather indicates the return of La Niña, an oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon that sees waters at the surface in the eastern Pacific Ocean run colder than usual.

"La Niña will bring cooler than normal temperatures for much of the Interior, and this is the pattern we're starting to see now — although La Niña usually comes in later in the year around Christmastime," Lee told Shelley Joyce, the host of CBC's Daybreak Kamloops.

The Okanagan Valley, Stuart-Nechako, Prince George, Cariboo and 100 Mile areas can expect about 10 to 15 centimetres of snow, but the weather agency says up to 20 centimetres could fall in the Cariboo Mountains.

Gusting winds of up to 60 km/h, blowing around fresh snow in some areas, will cause reduced visibility, Environment Canada says.

Williston and the B.C. Peace River region will likely get a bit of a break, with 10 centimetres of snow set to fall on Pine Pass.

Tom Higgins, the warehouse terminal manager of Cariboo Truck Terminals in Williams Lake, B.C., says his company would normally run four trucks to Gibraltar Mines daily. To prepare for snowy weather, the company has ensured all its trucks are equipped with good winter tires and chains.

"Safety is [the] number 1 concern," Higgins said. "If it's unsafe to drive, then we will quite often delay a trip to one of the mines until the roads are cleared."

Higgins says motorists should avoid driving in snowy conditions.

"If you don't have to be out, don't be out," he said. "If you do have to, slow down, give yourself extra time to get to your destination safely."

Meanwhile, heavy rain is hitting much of B.C.'s South Coast, and wind warnings have been issued for Greater Victoria.