Wintery temperatures forecast for the Okanagan this weekend

OKANAGAN – The Okanagan will get its first taste of winter-like temperatures before the weather begins to moderate next week.

Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon says the valley is now under a cold ridge of high pressure, bringing with it a stagnant air mass with clouds and the odd snow flurry.

“Clouds are starting to burn off towards Penticton, and that will be the case over the next two days, with a mix of sun and cloud expected. The change really begins on Sunday, when a weak disturbance is expected to bring a chance of flurries to the region later Sunday,” he says.

Sekhon says winds are expected to pick up tomorrow, Dec. 7, which will add windchill to the chilly temperatures.

Temperatures are expected to rebound towards normal values by early next week, with no major snowfall events on the immediate horizon. That's bad news for South Okanagan ski resorts, which have delayed their opening dates due to a lack of snow.

For today, Dec. 6, Environment Canada is forecasting a high of only -2 Celsius under a mainly cloudy sky. The mercury will dip to -7 C tonight.

With a mix of sun and cloud in the morning tomorrow, temperatures should reach a high of -2 C.

Friday night’s low of -8 C will only rebound to a high of -6 C on Saturday under a mix of sun and cloud.

Saturday night will be clear and cold with a low of -9 C.

The forecast calls for clouds on Sunday with a 30 per cent chance of flurries and the temperature steady around -5 C. There is a 60 per cent chance of flurries overnight with a low of -5 C.

That 60 per cent chance of flurries continues into Monday with a daytime high of -1 C.

Normal temperatures at this time of year in the Okanagan are highs around -1 C and lows of about -6 C.

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