Chilly New Year’s Eve in Okanagan, Kamloops followed by some snow

Kamloops and the Okanagan are expecting temperatures around the freezing mark for New Year’s Eve and then snow is forecast to begin in the evening on New Year’s Day.

Kamloops is anticipating a low of -2 Celsius on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, with overnight lows staying at -1 C for the rest of the week. Daily high temperatures are forecast to be between 2 C and 4 C with periods of snow on Friday, Jan. 1.

Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton are expecting a low of -2 C on New Year’s Eve and -1 C the rest of the week. The daily highs are forecast to be around 2 C for the rest of the week. There’s a chance of flurries for the next week with Saturday showing a chance of showers rather than snow. 

“We’re expecting our next disturbance to arrive probably on a Friday, Saturday time frame,” Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon told iNFOnews.ca.

“It’s a relatively weak disturbance moving up from the States, but we’re not expecting obvious amounts of precipitation.”

Kelowna’s Big White Ski Resort is supposed to be windy with temperature highs hovering around freezing and a few centimetres of snow falling on Friday and Saturday. 

Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops is expected to be cloudy with temperature highs around freezing until the weekend when temperatures drop to around -5 C with some light snow. 

Vernon’s SilverStar Mountain Resort is anticipating similar weather with daily high temperatures a bit colder and snow coming on Friday and Saturday. 

And Apex Mountain Resort near Penticton is expecting temperature highs around -3 C down to -7 C overnight and the same weather pattern is supposed to bring them a dusting of snow for the weekend. 

Drivers heading to the coast one the Coquihalla Highway and Okanagan Connector have good conditions forecasted for the coming days. 

The Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass is expecting some flurries and fog over the next 36 hours.

The mountain highways have a relatively clear forecast, but it’s best to be prepared.

“I’m not seeing anything too abnormal in the upcoming forecast right now,” Sekhon said. “But this time of year, things can change quick.”