‘The main word is cold’: Farmers’ Almanac predicts chilly winter in Kamloops, Okanagan

Get out and enjoy the last long weekend of summer because before you know it, winter will be here.

The Canadian edition of the weather prognosticating periodical the Farmers' Almanac is calling for a chilly and snowy winter in the Okanagan and Kamloops.

“The main word is cold, particularly the Thompson-Okanagan,” Farmers' Almanac managing editor Jack Burnett says.

According to the almanac, we can expect to experience a cold spell towards the end of November, lasting until the middle of December. A second cold spell is anticipated for the last week of January, and a third cold period is forecast for the second half of February.

Burnett says increased snowfall can be expected from mid-November into mid-December, with a second period of snow from mid-February until the end of the month.

“You’ll see snow in between, but those will be the most intense periods,” he says.

The real wintery weather will occur where the cold and snow periods overlap, which he says will be the last week of November to mid-December, and the second half of February.

“Those will be the peak winter periods. March looks like it could bring an early spring. There’s no snow or cold weather indicated for that month."

The almanac’s prediction for the rest of the country is worse, with a series of so-called ‘snow trains’ predicted from Alberta through to the east coast.

“You’ll get your share of snow, but it could be a lot worse,” Burnett says.

The Farmers’ Almanac Canadian edition is an annual publication that contains information on weather, gardening, food, history astronomy and other topics.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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