UPDATE: 12:25 p.m.

DriveBC says the Coquihalla Highway is back open between Merritt and Hope.

It was fully closed for five hours because of semi-trucks spinning out at Larson Hill.

Cameras show heavy snow continues to fall along the Coquihalla, as Kamloops continues to be blanketed by snow as well.

Locally, crews have been called many accidents across the city and on highways heading out of town.

Kamloops RCMP Sgt. Darren Michels says drivers need to slow down and give themselves extra time on the roads today.

“If you don’t have to go out today or can delay your departure, please consider this to allow the snow trucks to get road safely cleared,” Michels says.

Kamloops Fire Rescue said, as of noon, there had been no significant crashes. But crews are urging people to stay off the roads today.

Acting Platoon Capt. Ken Hartt says the main concerns are higher elevation roads.

“The roads from the intersection of Notre Dame Drive and up to the top of Aberdeen are extremely icy due to the change in temperature at that level,” he said. “People need to slow down and take winter driving seriously right now and make sure that they are driving the appropriate speed limits.”

A snowfall warning remains in place for the Coquihalla Highway, the Okanagan Connector and on Highway 97 from Clinton to 100 Mile House.

A less-severe special weather statement is in place for the Shuswap from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass, for the North Thompson and for the South Thompson, including Kamloops.

A travel advisory issued this morning by DriveBC for the Coquihalla from Kamloops to Merritt has now been lifted.

Today is now the second snowiest October day on record in Kamloops. As of 11 a.m., nine centimetres of snow was reported at the Kamloops Airport. Only once in October has more snow fallen in a single day at YKA, when 20.3 cm was recorded on Oct. 23, 1933.

(Photo: Twitter: MuketyMuk)

– with files form Victor Kaisar