High temperature records fall throughout the Thompson and Okanagan yesterday

Today’s snowy conditions promise to be a radical change from the balmy weather that set several records in the region yesterday.

Environment Canada’s weather summary says daily maximum records were set yesterday, Sunday, Dec. 20, in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Summerland, Princeton, Merritt and Cache Creek.

In Kelowna, the old record of 8.9 Celsius, set in 1933, was broken with a high of 10.2 C set yesterday.

Records in Kelowna date back to 1899.

Penticton saw its old record of 10.6 C, set in 1933, broken yesterday with a new high of 13.6 C.

Yesterday was the warmest Dec. 20 since records began in Penticton in 1907.

Vernon’s previous high of 7.9 C, set in 2018, was bested with a high of 9.9 C set yesterday.

Summerland basked under a high of 12.3 C yesterday, which beat the old record for that community of 9.5 C, set in 1994.

Princeton saw the previous record high for Dec. 20 of 7.5 C, also set in 2018, beaten with a high of 8.9 C.

Merritt reached a high of 10 C yesterday, which was slightly higher than the previous record high for Dec. 20 of 9.9 C, set in 2018.

Cache Creek reached a high of 10.3 yesterday, better than the previous record of 10 C set in 1965.

It doesn’t appear too likely any high temperature records will be broken today in Kamloops and the Okanagan, as Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings for Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton.


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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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