Kamloops, Okanagan could see a cold snap for the rest of October

Environment Canada meteorologist Carmen Hartt says the forecast for the Thompson-Okanagan is "a bit tricky" between now and the end of the month.

“It should be above normal on the coast due to the maritime influence but there is a very strong signal for a massive cold front that is expected to dominate Western Canadian weather patterns for the rest of October to sweep across the prairies and into B.C. – but just how far into B.C. is the question,” she says.

READ MORE: Snow expected to fall on Coquihalla

On Thursday, that cold signal drifted westward, reaching moderately strong into the southwestern interior of B.C., but on Friday it weakened a bit,” she says.

Hartt says it may not turn out to be exceptionally cold next week because the Thompson-Okanagan is stuck between the two systems.

“It might be turn out to be just ‘neutral’ weather, in spite of a northwest flow, with competing systems,” she says.

Hartt noted Calgary’s forecast calls for a high of -3 Celsius and a low to -13 C today Oct. 17, when the city has a normal high and low of 12 C and -2 C for this time of year.

The city was issued a snow squall warning yesterday as the cold front descended on the city.

“We are expecting a cold pattern for interior parts of western Canada. It’s just going to depend how far that cold air spreads west. There are indications it will be colder, but it might not be as drastic as 10 degrees, maybe two or three degrees below seasonal norms,” she says.

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