Plow clears snow off the Coquihalla in the first notable snowfall of the season on the highway/via Yellowhead Road and Bridge

The first real taste of winter driving has begun hitting the Coquihalla today.

Snow plows were activated on Monday morning to keep the roads clear — mostly along the Merritt to Hope section — as around 5 centimeters is expected throughout the day.

Yellowhead Road and Bridge, which is in-charge of maintaining the Coquihalla, says while the snowfall today isn’t posing much of a challenge for crews, it is a reminder that winter driving has arrived.

The first notable snowfall on the Coquihalla has come a bit later than normal this year, given a relatively mild start to the fall throughout much of the Southern Interior.

Under provincial rules, winter tires are mandatory on highways in the BC Interior from the start of October to the end of April.

Motorists making their way through mountain passes, such as the Coquihalla, are encouraged to check DriveBC before hand for the latest conditions, as weather conditions can change quite quickly at higher elevations.