December 2018 second warmest on record in Kelowna

KELOWNA – This past December's average temperature in Kelowna was two degrees warmer than usual, making it the second warmest since the airport started keeping track of temperatures in 1969.

The average temperature for Kelowna in December is -2.6 C, however in 2018, the average temperature was 0.7 C, according to Environment Canada. The warmest December on record was 2002 where the average was up to 1.3 degrees.

"When the complete monthly temperature is three degrees warmer than normal that's very significant," Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald says.

Last month was also relatively dry in Kelowna. The city saw 54 per cent of normal precipitation levels for the month, which makes it the seventh driest December on record.

"We're stepping into this very strong southwesterly flow," MacDonald explains. "So our air masses are coming in from the southwest off the Pacific, with more of a tropical component. Friday through Monday is going to be quite mild but then come Tuesday we start slowly approaching near normal temperatures."

MacDonald says these mild temperatures are expected to continue this winter because it's an El Niño year.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shelby Thevenot or call (250) 819-6089 or email the editor You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won’t censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.