233050

Kelowna  

Hwy reopens S of Vernon

UPDATE: 11:05 a.m.

North Okanagan RCMP have reopened Highway 97 southbound from College Way to Bailey Road. 

Police were urging motorists to slow down and drive to conditions after wet, slippery snow blanketed the region.
 


UPDATE: 10:15 a.m.

RCMP confirm they have temporarily closed the southbound lanes of Highway 97, from College Way to Bailey Road south of Vernon, due to extremely slippery and dangerous conditions. 

Const Jocelyn Noseworthy says it is not yet known how long the closure will last. 

"Road conditions across the North Okanagan are slippery and treacherous in places. RCMP are reminding the motoring public to drive to conditions if you must go out," she said.


UPDATE: 10 a.m.

Motorists report Highway 97 is closed south of Vernon due to an apparent car crash.

The closure is about five kilometres south of the city.

RCMP are turning motorists around, a Castanet reader reports, and emergency vehicles are on site.

Road visibility is poor, and conditions are described as "slippery and horrendous."

If you don't need to drive, don't, the tipster says.


ORIGINAL: 8:20 a.m.

Highway 97, between Lake Country and Vernon, is a skating rink Wednesday morning as heavy snow falls, causing poor visibility. 

The highway has yet to be plowed and motorists have reported very slick conditions.

North Okanagan RCMP warned those getting into their vehicles to drive to weather conditions because roads were snow covered and slippery.  

Additionally, Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Highway, where a total of 20 to 30 centimetres of snow is expected to fall.

During the night, 16 centimetres fell on the mountain pass, and another 10 is expected throughout the day.

“Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow,” the warning states. “Poor weather conditions may contribute to transportation delays.”

Meanwhile, light snow is falling in downtown Kelowna Wednesday morning.

While spring may have seemed within arms reach due to the recent sunny weather, it appears winter is not quite done yet. 



More Kelowna News