Winter arrived in most of the East Kootenay overnight.

Environment Canada reports the bulk of the snow has fallen in areas covered by snowfall warnings (Elk Valley, Cranbrook/Kimberley), with a 40 to 60% chance of flurries forecast for the remainder of the day.

With volumes of snow fallen ranging from five to at least 25 cm and temperatures slightly warming, the snow captured in trees will get heavier, causing even more problems with branches snapping.

BC Hydro reports a power outage in the Porto Rico Road area at Moyie and there have been other outages earlier today in Cranbrook.

Mainroad East Kootenay Contracting this morning alerted stakeholders: “temperatures will warm slightly throughout the day, so the snow will become wetter, possibly turning to rain, with precipitation anticipated to stop late this afternoon.

“Our crews will be applying anti-ice chemicals and/or winter abrasive, and performing snow removal operations where necessary,” the regional highways contractor stated.

“Our 24-hour communications and dispatch office will pass on your observations and concerns when contacted.”

Mainroad Communications and dispatch: 1-800-665-4929.

DriveBC reports winter driving conditions throughout the Kootenays.

Lead image: A yearling whitetail deer takes advantage of the heavy snow that fell overnight south of Cranbrook, munching down on previously unreachable parts of a rose bush/tree in Gold Creek.  Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photo

e-KNOW

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