Warmer temperatures and rain on the way for Okanagan, Kamloops

Kamloops and the Okanagan are expecting some warm, grey and rainy days ahead.

This past weekend gave the region another taste of a winter wonderland, but it is looking like it’s going to melt away.

Kamloops is expecting a high of 3 Celsius on Wednesday, Vernon has a forecasted high of 1 C, Kelowna a high of 2 C and Penticton a high of 5 C.

Temperatures are expected to rise throughout the week ending up at a high of 8 C in the Okanagan with a chance of rain from Friday to Monday. Kamloops is forecasted to be a bit warmer with a high of 12 C on Sunday.

Environment Canada meteorologist Chris Doyle said the region is only expecting around 5 to 10 millimetres of rain at low elevations.

“There’s still going to be snow up in the mountains, through the passes into the Interior and up at the resorts,” Doyle told iNFOnews.ca.

Doyle said skiers and snowboarders shouldn’t fret about the rise in temperature.

“You got a pretty good base. Even if temperatures do get mild and even if freezing levels lift up to 1,500 meters, there’s not going to be a lot of melt because there isn’t going to be a lot of rain. The base will still be there, but the groomers will have a job to do,” he said.

Drivers heading through the mountain passes like the Coquihalla Highway and Okanagan Connector should still be anticipating snow at higher elevations.

“I suppose I can’t take into account the driving habits of individuals, so I’m not quite sure how dangerous it might be. But you should expect snow in the higher elevation routes, really flurries tomorrow and into tomorrow evening,” he said. “We’re looking at maybe 5 centimetres, possibly as much as 10 cm through tomorrow morning into Thursday morning. And hopefully the road crews will take good care of that.”