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UPDATE: Icy roads, no end in sight for cold snap

It's snowing like crazy out there. The roads are treacherous and more is expected to fall.
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Icy roads out there Friday evening

UPDATE: 5:45 p.m.

It is slick out on the roads and emergency personnel are urging motorists to take it easy Friday evening.

A car went off the highway near Gorman's Mill in Glenrosa closing one lane of traffic this afternoon.

The car slid off the highway into a nearby ditch.

Witnesses say there were no serious injuries.

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UPDATE: 12:45 p.m.

The snow continues to fall in the Central Okanagan and there is no signs of it slowly down over the next few days.

Environment Canada meteorologist Ross MacDonald says the local snow is all part of the same weather pattern impacting the entire southern half of the province right now.

“We are all in it together. We are seeing snow in the Southwestern portion of the Okanagan, through Kelowna and into the Thompson and Kamloops as well,” says MacDonald.

“The heavier amounts are confined to the coastal region, some areas of Vancouver Island are topping over 10 centimetres right now and Metro Vancouver is starting to accumulate as well.”

The coast is still bracing for the snow storm which has already seen the B.C. Legislature in Victoria covered in fresh powder.

“The snow is fashionably late down there, but it is coming.”

As for the Okanagan, MacDonald says snow will continue to blanket the area.

“There is two to four centimetres in the forecast for today and two to four centimetres for tonight. All-in-all, we will see upwards of five to ten centimetres over the Okanagan this weekend.”

He notes that the major story here is the sub-zero temperatures which will hold their grip over the region well into next week.

“With daytime highs in Kelowna usually at about 0 C, this arctic air has the area struggling to get to -8 C – that trend is continuing. Later this weekend there is a re-infusion of cold arctic air coming down again which will push temperatures down again,” explains MacDonald.

He says the region will struggle to break a daytime high of -10 C and can expect overnight lows of -17 C.

“It will be sunny, but it will be cold,” says MacDonald.

“That outlook looks like it will continue all next week, right to Friday at least. It is a prolonged cold snap.

“There is no respite in sight.”

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UPDATE: 9:45 a.m.

The snow is falling in varying degrees in the Central Okanagan this morning.

Residents awoke to see a thin layer of Okanagan powder on their front lawn.

While no major accidents were reported in the Central Okanagan, the first few centimetres of the white stuff caused major slow downs for morning commuters out of West Kelowna.

Roads are slippery and could get worse so motorists are being urged to take caution and leave more time all day today.

Environment Canada is predicting periods of snow throughout Friday, up to four additional centimetres, with temperatures holding around -9 C.

Tonight is calling for a 40 per cent chance of flurries this evening with periods of snow beginning near midnight and temperatures holding steady - 10 C.

Flurries are expected to continue intermittently throughout the weekend.

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ORIGINAL

We are having our first real snowfall this morning, Dec. 9.

The roads are pretty treacherous. Drive with appropriate care and attention, especially through school zones and anywhere pedestrians are crossing.

Consult DriveBC before you head out on the highways.