Drivers are advised to avoid unnecessary travel on Vancouver Island starting Thursday evening, and into Friday and Saturday, as Environment Canada is warning that snowfall switching to freezing rain and rain is expected to create adverse driving conditions.

Environment Canada is forecasting snow and the risk of freezing rain beginning Friday and into Sunday for most of B.C.’s southern Interior.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has closed Highway 5 (Coquihalla Highway) between Othello, just east of Hope, and Merritt on Wednesday afternoon.

Drivers on the Lower Mainland and southern and central Vancouver Island are encouraged to avoid non-essential travel today due to the heavy snowfall overnight. 

The Province’s commercial vehicle chain-up rules are being strictly enforced for vehicles travelling Highway 1 over the Malahat.

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for Highway 1 over the Malahat, the Alberni Summit on Highway 4, and other parts of eastern Vancouver Island on Monday, Dec. 19, forecasting as much as 20 centimetres of snow.

Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Lower Mainland, with snowfall accumulations of 10 to 15 centimetres expected to begin late afternoon Monday, Dec. 19 until the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2022.

Drivers are advised of possible detours and closures on Highway 1 westbound through North Vancouver between Mountain Highway and Lynn Valley Road.