Coquihalla Highway reopened after closure for avalanche control

The Coquihalla Highway has reopened after being closed for hoursWednesday for avalanche control work, in the aftermath of a storm that has lingered over southern B.C. for most of the past week.

Weather warnings have been lifted for much of the province's southern regions, though winter-storm warnings are still in effect for mountain passes onhighways 1 and 3.

There are no longer any alerts in effect for the Coquihalla, but the stretch linking Hope and Merritt, B.C., will be shut down between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. PT to address the risk from the heavy snowfall in recent days.

Kootenay Pass on Highway 3 is also closed for avalanche control, with an estimated reopening of 6 p.m. PT, according to DriveBC.

Earlier Wednesday, stretches of Highway 1 east and west of Revelstoke were closed due to the high avalanche risk, DriveBC said, but the routes have since reopened.

• Find Environment Canada weather warnings here

Previous weather warnings this week have covered a stretch of the province from Vancouver Island to the Elk Valley. The advisorieswere lifted by Wednesday morning.

Bitter weather across B.C. since New Year's Eve has knocked out power to more than 160,000 people and killed at least three people in avalanches.

Drivers are reminded to slow down and drive for the conditions if they must travel through a winter storm. Non-essential travel is not recommended, the weather agency has said.