Kamloops, Okanagan temperature records not threatened by cold snap

While it’s not going to be pleasant being hit with windchills of -35 Celsius or colder over the next couple of days, the Arctic intrusion will be far from record breaking. Last winter was even colder in Kamloops and the Okanagan just before Christmas.

The forecast for Kamloops and the Okanagan calls for lows of around -26 C early Saturday morning, Jan. 13.

Even if the mercury drops as low as forecast on Saturday the temperature isn't in the ballpark when it comes to record-breaking overnight lows.

Last winter, on Dec. 22 Kamloops recorded a low of -30.3 C. Kelowna came in at -29 C, Vernon at -29.1 C and Penticton hit -22.3 C.

While those were about five degrees colder than are likely to be recorded on Saturday, they were still far from the all-time cold records for these cities.

READ MORE: Cold snap expected to wield another devastating blow to Okanagan wine industry

Vernon has the distinction of recording the coldest temperature of the four at -38.9 C on Dec. 29, 1968, according to Environment Canada records.

Kamloops dropped to -38.3 C on Jan. 18, 1950, while Kelowna’s record was set at -36.1 on Dec. 30, 1968.

Penticton’s coldest day ever recorded was a relatively mild -27.2 on Dec. 30, 1968.

Just to put some perspective on that, the coldest days ever recorded were more than 80 degrees below the heat dome record highs set on June 29, 2021. On that day, Kamloops hit 47.3 C and Kelowna recorded 45.7 C.

READ MORE: One more day of the heat wave pushes Okanagan and Canadian records even higher

When it comes to cold, whatever happens in Kamloops or the Okanagan is far from Canadian or even BC records, although the coldest temperature ever recorded in BC was not far away in Rock Creek. The temperature in that community dropped to -56.5 C on Feb. 16, 2013.

For Canada, the coldest recorded temperature was in Snag, Yukon Territory, on Feb. 3, 1947, when the mercury fell all the way to -63 C.

Temperatures don’t have to be anywhere near record cold to cause serious problems especially for those living or working outside.

“Cold related symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes,” an Environment Canada cold weather warning says.

“Cover up. Frostbite can develop within minutes on exposed skin especially with wind chill.”

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