Snow, freezing rain warning

Freezing rain is expected to hit parts of B.C.'s Southern Interior, potentially causing dangerous driving conditions and power outages.

The warning, which extends to Highway 3, from Hope to Princeton via Allison Pass; the Coquihalla Highway, from Hope to Merritt, as well as the Similkameen, Skagit Valley, and Nicola areas is for Tuesday night until Wednesday morning.

"A Pacific frontal system will bring warm, moist air to the southwestern BC interior this afternoon," Environment Canada said in its alert.

"By this evening, the combination of warm air aloft and lingering cold surface air will result in freezing rain over the Similkameen and Nicola regions, including segments of Highway 3 - Hope to Princeton and the Coquihalla Highway, from Hope to Merritt."

The rain brings a risk of icy and slippery surfaces on highways, roads, walkways, and parking lots, as well as possible utility outages.

Another earlier weather alert, meanwhile, has been rescinded for some areas and extended to others.

The North Okanagan, Central Okanagan and Elk Valley are no longer forecast to have heavy snow.

The East Kootenay, Shuswap, Arrow Lakes , Boundary, West Kootenay, Kootenay Lake, and North Thompson regions are all expected to see heavy snow in varying amounts starting Tuesday and carrying on into Wednesday.

The North Thompson, Shuswap, East Kootenay, and West Columbia will see snow will intensify this evening and persist until Wednesday afternoon before easing as the system departs.

Boundary, West Kootenay, Kootenay Lake, and Arrow Lakes will see snow will begin late Tuesday afternoon and it may transition to rain by Wednesday morning, resulting in slushy road conditions. Precipitation will ease by Wednesday afternoon.

Environment Canada warned that there is still uncertainty regarding exact snowfall amounts and the timing of the snow-to-rain transition in each region.

Snowfall warnings may be issued as the situation becomes clearer.