Why B.C.'s Coquihalla Highway is a danger in the winter

A popular route for B.C. travellers, the Coquihalla Highway—also known as Highway 5—can be quite dangerous to motorists during the winter months.

Traversing along any of the mountain passes in B.C. can be hazardous at times during the 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 dangers that await travellers on the Coquihalla Highway in the winter.

Thumbnail courtesy of Lee Wood, submitted to The Weather Network.