Ski resorts in Okanagan, Kamloops forecast to get both rain and snow

This unusually warm winter in Kamloops and the Okanagan isn’t going anywhere soon with temperatures expected to rise this week along with a chance of both rain and snow.

Environment Canada meteorologist Derek Lee told iNFOnews.ca a weather system on its way will bring some snow and rain with local ski resorts possibly getting some of that rain as well.

“Our temperatures are going to really spike Wednesday and Thursday for Kamloops and the Okanagan,” Lee said. “Friday we’ll see some rain at the ski resorts, but I think all in all we’re going to see some snow at least for Thursday for the ski hills.”

The Okanagan is expecting daily high temperatures around 0 Celsius for the start of the week and dropping to -7 C tonight, Jan. 26. Temperatures are forecast to rise throughout the week hitting a high daytime high 6 C and an overnight low of 2 C on Thursday. A mix of rain and snow is supposed to start on Wednesday and continue on and off until the weekend. 

Kamloops is projected to be a bit warmer with a high temperature around 7 C with a low of 5 C on Thursday. The same weather system is supposed to bring a mix of rain and snow to Kamloops as well. 

Ski resorts in the region should be getting a few centimetres of snow in the middle of the week and lower elevations could get some rain towards the end of the week. 

“In the very high (elevations), like the top of the ski hills, maybe 2,000 metres, that will still probably be OK with snow, but down in the villages, we’ll probably get rain by Friday morning,” Lee said. 

Big White Ski Resort had some icy conditions over the weekend, but it’s anticipating some more snowfall this week. With freezing levels rising from an elevation of 1,600 metres to 2,000 m at the end of the week, there could be some rain at the bottom of the hill in the village at 1,755 m and the Gem Lake Express at 1,511 m. 

SilverStar Mountain Resort’s village is at 1,609 m and it is anticipating daily highs to rise throughout the week from -7 C today to 0 C on Friday. Flurries and trace snowfall could add up to around 10 centimetres by the weekend. 

Apex Mountain Resort is expecting similar weather with a village at 1,629 m of elevation. Temperatures are expected to rise over the course of the week up to a high of 0 C on Saturday and similar periods of light flurries throughout the week. Some of the webcams show rocks and grass poking up through the snow.

Sun Peaks Resort is getting the same weather pattern with the village at 1,200 m. Flurries are expected through the week as daily high temperatures rise from -7 C today to -2 C on Friday. There are chances of light snow throughout the week but nothing significant. 

Other parts of the country are getting hit with some extreme weather. Toronto just got around 50 cm of snow and Cold Lake, Alta. hit -42 C over the weekend.

Here in the Southern Interior the mild winter doesn’t seem to be changing its tune. 

“I don’t think we’ll see a major cold snap anytime soon,” Lee said. “Historically February is still not a safe month because we usually get quite a bit of storms in February…. can’t rule it out yet.”