B.C. sees strong winds along the coast, winter storm warnings for Interior highways

Environment Canada is warning of strong winds and heavy rain over much of coastal British Columbia and a large swath of the central Interior, while winter storm warnings are in effect for stretches of highway in the south.

The weather office says gusts of wind could reach speeds of up to 90 or 100 kilometres an hour over southern Vancouver Island, including the Victoria area.

It says gusts could jump to speeds of 110 kilometres an hour over northern Vancouver Island and stretching up to Bella Bella on the central coast.

Winds were expected to reach speeds of 90 kilometres an hour over Metro Vancouver and the eastern Fraser Valley, where special weather statements are also in effect due to heavy rain that was expected to ease later Monday.

Winter storm warnings cover the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt and Highway 3 from the Paulson summit area to the Kootenay Pass as Environment Canada forecasts strong winds with heavy snow.

It says "rapidly accumulating snow" combined with the winds will create "near-zero visibilities and treacherous driving conditions."

The snow was expected to taper off overnight, with accumulations ranging from about 20 centimetres at the Coquihalla summit to about 40 centimetres along the Kootenay Pass by Tuesday morning, the warning bulletin says.

Lower-level special weather statements are in effect for the Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Kamloops, as well as Highway 3 from Hope to Princeton and the Okanagan Connector from Merritt to Kelowna, where the forecast calls for snowfall from five to 10 centimetres.

In the central Interior, Environment Canada says strong winds were expected to peak at 70 kilometres an hour with gusts up to 90 kilometres an hour.

The warnings in the Interior stretch from 70 Mile House in the south to Burns Lake in the north and also include Williams Lake and Quesnel.

The winds were expected to drop later Monday, easing along the coast ahead of the Interior.