UPDATE 3 p.m. – Environment Canada has upgraded a winter storm watch for a number of Interior highways, including the Hope to Merritt section of the Coquihalla, into a winter storm warning.

The warnings also include the Trans-Canada Highway between Eagle and Rogers Pass and Highway 3 between Grand Forks and Creston via the Paulson Summit and Kootenay Pass. Highway 3 between Hope and Princeton via the Allison Pass remains under a winter storm watch this hour.

The weather agency is calling for significant snowfall in addition to gusty winds on all those sections of highway, starting tonight, Feb. 27.

“A strong pacific frontal system will begin to push into the BC Interior this evening. Snowfall will intensify overnight and continue throughout Wednesday and into Thursday,” Environment Canada said. “In addition, gusty southwest winds will develop Wednesday and persist into Thursday.”

“Snowfall amounts will vary along the routes due to elevation but totals of 25 to 40 cm can be expected.”

The Coquihalla was closed in both directions between Hope and Merritt for a number of hours Monday night due to a number of spun out commercial vehicles. Drive BC says the northbound lanes were closed around 5 p.m., with the southbound lanes closed around 8:30 p.m.

The highway reopened to southbound traffic around midnight, before it was fully cleared and open in both directions around 1 a.m. this morning.

People are being urged to check DriveBC for the latest road conditions, and to avoid travelling on area highways – if possible – until the system passes, with heavy snow and gusty winds expected to taper off on Thursday.

“Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow,” Environment Canada added. “Weather in the mountains can change suddenly resulting in hazardous driving conditions.”

Environment Canada has also issued snowfall warnings for parts of the Lower Mainland, the Fraser Valley, the Sea to Sky Highway, and Whistler with snowfall amounts expected to be between 5 and 25 centimetres.

For the latest weather alerts from Environment Canada, go here.