February could be the coldest on record in Kamloops

PENTICTON – Winter conditions will continue to dominate the Kamloops weather pattern this week. And if the current trend continues, it could make February the second coldest on record for Kamloops.

Environment Canada meteorologist Carmen Hart says cold weather experienced in the first 17 days of February this year have put this month in line to be the second coldest in recorded history for the Kamloops area, if the current trend continues to the end of the month. The temperature record dates back to 1890.

Hart says the forecast calls for the colder than normal conditions to continue into March.

She says the city has been stuck in an arctic air mass that has covered much of the country since the beginning of February.

Hart says periods of snow will begin this morning, Feb. 19, with two to four centimetres expected during the day. With a high of -3 C today, the wind chill this afternoon will be around -6 C.

More snow is anticipated overnight, with an additional two to four cm predicted. An overnight low of -6 C will be accompanied by 15 km/h winds which will produce a wind chill of -8 C.

Tomorrow will see a 40 per cent chance of flurries with a high reaching 0 C.

Skies are expected to clear Thursday with a high of -1 C. Clouds will move back into the region overnight bringing a 60 per cent chance of flurries and a low of -8 C.

Friday it’s back to periods of snow with a daytime high of -2 C and an overnight low of -5 C, with periods of snow continuing overnight. More snow is forecast for Saturday, with a high reaching 0 C.

Hart says it’s not clear at this point how much snow to expect, but predictions are for another five cm from Friday through Saturday.

Kamloops residents are used to an average daily high temperature of 5 C and overnight low of -3 C this time of year.

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