Why B.C.'s Coquihalla Highway is a danger in the fall and winter
A popular route for B.C. travellers, the Coquihalla Highway—also known as Highway 5—can be quite dangerous to motorists during certain times of the year.
Traversing along any of the mountain passes in B.C. can be hazardous at times during the late fall and winter, especially during and after hefty amounts of snowfall.
But one stretch of roadway, the Coquihalla Highway—also known as Highway 5—can be quite dangerous to motorists during the cold months.
The reason for the heightened peril with this highway? The route can take you up into the atmosphere as the altitude continues to climb.
"By the time you reach the Coquihalla pass, you're over a kilometre above sea level, so all of that rain can change over into heavy snow. So this is where the problem is," says Erin Wenckstern, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
Watch the video above to get a full explanation for the potential dangers that await travellers on the Coquihalla Highway.
Thumbnail courtesy of Lee Wood, submitted to The Weather Network.