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 reportedwinter 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 beganon Thursday and are expected to lastuntil 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 Georgecould 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 weatherindicates the return of La Nia,an oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon that sees waters at the surface in the eastern Pacific Ocean runcolder than usual.

"La Niawill bring cooler than normal temperatures for much of the Interior, and this is the pattern we're starting to see now althoughLa Niausually comes in later in the year around Christmastime," Lee told Shelley Joyce, the host ofCBC's Daybreak Kamloops.

The Okanagan Valley, Stuart-Nechako, Prince George, Cariboo and 100 Mile areas can expect about10 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 snowin some areas, will cause reduced visibility, Environment Canada says.

Williston and the B.C. Peace River regionwill likely get a bit of a break, with 10 centimetres of snow set to fall onPine 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 companyhas ensuredall its trucks are equipped withgood winter tires andchains.

"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."

Higginssays motorists shouldavoid driving insnowy 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.