It appears 2021 is already off to a slippery start for local and regional drivers.
Though no warnings are in effect, Environment Canada says Prince George snow will continue to lightly fall for the next 36 hours or so, accumulating to about five centimetres or possibly more, which could lead to some poor conditions on the roads.
Temperatures reached a low of -10 C with the wind chill at the Prince George airport, according to the national service.
Drive BC is warning commuters to slow down, especially out on the highways during the first full week of January, as it reports slippery sections on every major road heading outside or into the northern capital.
This includes Highway 97 north of the city, specifically between Mitchell and Kloss Roads, towards the Pine Pass and beyond to Chetwynd, between Tudyah Lake Provincial Park and Weiland Road.
Construction between McLeod Lake and the Highway 39 junction towards Mackenzie is also on Drive BC’s radar as utility work is taking place over a 15-kilometre stretch until the end of the month and commuters can expect some delays if they’re travelling in this area.
Today, please watch for compact snow + slippery sections, especially if you're heading onto higher elevation roads. Snow is also expected in the #PinePass.
— Argo Roads South Peace (@ArgoSouthPeace) January 4, 2021
Details: https://t.co/XVcKVOmn1L
Drive with care, give our crews rooms to work, & NEVER pass a snowplow on the right. pic.twitter.com/BQzZKbQk37
Conditions appear to be a bit more blustery out west at Vanderhoof.
Between Bednesti and Fort Fraser, and 82.5-kilometre stretch on Highway 16, the white stuff is blowing at a considerable pace, causing more slippery sections and compact snow.
Shoulder maintenance is also being conducted further west beyond Fraser Lake; a detour is in effect as the project is scheduled to be complete by March 31.
Slippery sections reported west of Prince George on Jan. 4, 2021. By Drive BCOn Highway 16 east between Purden Lake and West Twin Provincial Parks, slippery sections are stretched for more than 100 km of road.
Drive BC doesn’t currently have any slippery-section alerts for Highway 97 south towards Quesnel, but a landslide heading north between Pollard and Umiti Pit Roads is still forcing commuters to slow down to 50 km/h for a short period of travel.
For more information and updates on road conditions, you can visit Drive BC’s website.
Slippery sections mapped out for Prince George commuters on Jan. 4, 2021. By Drive BCEnvironment Canada currently has wind warnings in effect for Haida Gwaii, Prince Rupert and the North Coast regions.
The only snowfall warnings in B.C., as of this publication (Jan. 4), are in the northern Okanagan and Kootenay regions.
As for tomorrow’s (Jan. 5) forecast, Prince George could see more periods of snow in the amount of five centimetres more amid mixes of sun and cloud.
Afterwards, Environment Canada is predicting snow mixed with rain, along with winds gusting up to 60 km/h, forcing temperatures to drop to -9 C.
Slippery road = longer stopping time. Maintain a safe following distance of at least 4 seconds between you and other vehicles https://t.co/ff2bnjrhtF #ShiftIntoWinter @TranBC @DriveBC pic.twitter.com/2pORGcMfP2
— AIMRoads (@AimRoads) January 4, 2021
