UPDATE: Snow day in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – Today was supposed to be the first day back after winter break, but students in Kamloops are instead starting the new year with a snow day after heavy snowfall Sunday.

School District 73 Supt. Karl de Bruijn says the unprecedented snowfall has made many roads impassable and staff have been unable to get to busses and schools to start the day.

“We are taking the unprecedented step of closing schools for today only,” he says, adding crews will be working to clear the school parking lots today so school can reopen tomorrow.

Thompson Rivers University originally planned for a partial snow day but has since announced the campus will be closed all day today and a decision about Tuesday, Jan. 6 will be made by 6:30 a.m tomorrow. 

A winter storm warning remains in effect for much of the Southern Interior, including Kamloops, and another 5 to 15 centimetres of snow is expected with the system later today. Warming temperatures could lead to freezing rain developing Tuesday as well.

Environment Canada recommends you consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 11:24 a.m., Jan. 5 with an update from the university.