coquihalla weather snarled travel Monday (March 9) as the Coquihalla Highway reopened after a closure caused by a jack‑knifed semi,. Tk’emlups Rural RCMP and Environment Canada urged drivers to limit travel and prepare for treacherous conditions. Multiple agencies issued staggered updates through the morning as crews worked to clear the route and assess damage.
Coquihalla Weather: Road status and immediate facts
At 9: 00 a. m. ET Tk’emlups Rural RCMP advised the public to travel on local highways only if absolutely necessary, saying highways surrounding Kamloops were extremely icy and travel could be treacherous. DriveBC posted an update at 7: 00 a. m. ET that southbound traffic on the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt was expected to resume at about 7: 30 a. m. ET, and an earlier DriveBC entry noted a vehicle incident on Highway 5 at around 1: 15 a. m. ET that initially halted southbound movement.
Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, forecasting about 15 to 20 centimetres of snow for that stretch on Monday (March 9) with periods of heavy snow at times and flurries tapering off by Monday night ET. The weather agency attributed the snowfall to an upper low and warned that travel on Highway 5 would remain challenging throughout the day.
Route details: the closure and subsequent reopening followed a jack‑knifed semi that had blocked the road; Transport trucks were reported backed up leaving Kamloops, and northbound traffic was not impacted while southbound traffic faced delays. DriveBC indicated a detour was available Highway 1 from Kamloops to Cache Creek as an assessment continued.
Immediate reactions
“The Coquihalla [Highway] is now open following a closure due to a jack‑knifed semi truck, ” Tk’emlups Rural RCMP S/Sgt. Del Byron said, adding that transport trucks remained backed up leaving Kamloops. At 9: 00 a. m. ET the RCMP urged residents to clear dirt, ice and snow from their vehicles, carry an emergency kit and share travel plans and routes with someone they trust.
Environment Canada reiterated the snowfall warning and the expected accumulation of 15 to 20 centimetres on the Hope‑to‑Merritt stretch, emphasizing that periods of heavy snow would make the Coquihalla Highway difficult to negotiate for most of the day.
What’s next and travel outlook
Authorities said assessments are ongoing and travelers should expect disruptions into the afternoon. DriveBC had scheduled another update for 6: 00 a. m. ET earlier in the morning cycle and provided routing alternatives; motorists should watch for further DriveBC advisories this morning and through Monday night ET as crews clear roadways and weather systems move through.
Because coquihalla weather remains volatile and patches of ice were singled out by RCMP, drivers are advised to postpone nonessential trips, pack emergency supplies and plan detours where possible. Officials stressed that while the highway reopened, conditions will be challenging and changeable throughout the day.
