Cold weather keeping shoppers away in Kelowna

KELOWNA – The near record-breaking cold seems to have put a chill on this year's Boxing Day crowds.

A Best Buy employee at Orchard Park Shopping Centre couldn’t give his name or speak for the company but says compared with last year, lines have been relatively short and crowds manageable.

“It’s not a lot slower but it’s noticeable,” she says.

An Orchard Park security guard who opened the doors this morning says there were only a couple people waiting.

“It’s probably the weather and online (shopping),” Trevor says. “Most stores will have sales all week so we weren’t expecting (lines) before we opened.”

By 11 a.m. the wait to make a purchase at Best Buy was roughly 15 minutes, but Trevor says that is as short as it gets on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

“This afternoon will be packed,” he says. “Wish me luck.”

Environment Canada predicts a high of -10 Celsius in Kelowna and Vernon today and a high of -7 C in Penticton. There is a 30 per cent chance of flurries overnight in Kelowna, with overnight lows around -11 C.

Normal temperatures for this time of year are highs of -2 C and lows of -8 C.


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Adam Proskiw

Adam has lived in B.C. most of his life. He was born in the Caribou, grew up in the Okanagan, went to university on Vancouver Island and worked as a news photographer in Vancouver. His favourite stories incorporate meaningful photography and feature interesting, passionate locals. He studied writing at UVic and photojournalism in California. He loves talking tractors, dogs and cameras and is always looking for a good story.


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