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Winter Storm 2015
Fast melt following massive snow a concern
KAMLOOPS - The next challenge the city could face following this week's snow storm is coping with rapid melting as temperatures rise. It has been more than 87 years since Kamloops has seen two-day snowfall amounts nearing the 40 centimetre mark and the storm had city crews scrambling to keep up earlier this week. The...
Equipment break down delays Vernon snow removal
VERNON - Machinery issues have set back snow removal efforts in Vernon. Snow clearing on 27 Street was delayed Wednesday due to mechanical difficulties with the city’s large snow blower, communications coordinator Tanya Laing Gahr said in a media release. The blower was repaired late Wednesday and snow removal in the downtown core picked up...
Lights out for thousands of North Okanagan residents
NORTH OKANAGAN - A number of snow-related power outages are plaguing North Okanagan residents all the way from Cherryville to Spallumcheen. As of 2:52 p.m. Wednesday Jan. 7, B.C. Hydro was responding to 21 individual outages across the North Okanagan, most of them snow related, leaving over 2,000 customers without power. Vernon claimed 14 outages,...
Snow removal continues tonight
KAMLOOPS - City crews will again be working to clear accumulated snow in the Downtown and North Shore business areas Wednesday night through Friday. Work began in the areas Tuesday night but with nearly 40 centimetres of snow over a two-day period a lot more snow still needs to be cleared. On Wednesday, Jan. 7...
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS: Snow-dogs of the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - You’d think four legs are better for getting around in the snow than two. But that’s not the case when you’re a dog and the snow is higher than you are. Like us humans, some Thompson-Okanagan dogs embraced the snow this week, while others sulked about it. You’ll see some grumpy dog faces...
What Vernon can expect from city plows Wednesday
VERNON - City of Vernon road crews expect to have all residential roads and cul-de-sacs plowed by mid-morning Wednesday. After that, they will begin plowing and sanding all areas of the city, communications coordinator Tanya Laing Gahr said in a release. Snow removal will continue on 27 Street until noon Wednesday. Late Tuesday night, crews...
UPDATE: 1,200 still without power in Shuswap
SALMON ARM - More than 1,200 customers are still without power in the Shuswap area after power was restored to about 1,700 customers earlier today. A few customers have been without power since Tuesday afternoon but for many the power went out early Wednesday morning. B.C. Hydro is blaming the snow storm that buried the...
Most of Thompson-Okanagan well shy of record snowfall amounts
ONLY KELOWNA COMES CLOSE THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Nearly enough snow fell on Kelowna to set new two-day snowfall records this week but it was nowhere near the amount that fell on Penticton in 1932. The storm began late Saturday evening and had ended in much of the region by Monday evening. After two days of solid...
School back on in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - In case there was any doubt in your mind, yes schools are set to reopen in School District 73 Wednesday after two snow days in a row. Students have been out of school since Dec. 19 when winter break began. Schools were ready to reopen Monday, Jan. 5 but Mother Nature had other...
UPDATE: Freezing rain warning ends for Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - A freezing rain warning issued earlier this afternoon for Kamloops has ended Kamloops is still digging out after early 40 centimetres of snow fell at the Kamloops Airport over the course of the snow storm Sunday and Monday. Environment Canada issued a freezing rain warning shortly after noon with temperatures set to remain...
Kamloops Airport cleaning up after storm
KAMLOOPS - There were nine flight cancellations at the airport Sunday and Monday but the break in the storm means flights are back to normal and crews have been able to start cleanup on additional taxiways. A total of 35 centimetres fell at Kamloops Airport over the course of the storm and airport manager Fred...
Vernon maintenance crews move onto side streets
VERNON - City of Vernon crews are finally moving onto residential streets after more than 24 hours of continuous snowfall. According to city communications coordinator Tanya Laing Gahr crews have plowed and sanded all main roads and are now shifting to side streets. The snowstorm dumped over 35 cm of snow on roadways. Starting late...
Winter storm shuts down highways
BACK TO SEASONAL NORMALS BY END OF DAY THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A winter storm warning is over for much of the Southern Interior, but it has left toppled trees, black ice and high avalanche risk in its wake. A winter storm warning remains in place for the Shuswap and regions north and east of the Shuswap,...
Second snow day in a row for North Okanagan-Shuswap students
SCHOOL DISTRICTS 22 AND 83 CANCEL CLASS VERNON - Students in the Vernon and North Okanagan-Shuswap School Districts are getting a second snow day Tuesday, Jan. 6. School District 83 announced Monday evening it will be shutting down all schools due to the continued winter storm warning and Environment Canada’s prediction of freezing rain. District...
IN TWEETS: Okanagan #snowstorm
OKANAGAN – It isn’t exactly Snowmageddon, but it is one of the largest dumps of snow the Okanagan has received in such a short time in over decade. The weather prognosticators at Environment Canada are promising an end to the heavy snow by midnight Monday, followed by flurries and clouds for a few days so...
UPDATE: Second day of school closures in Kamloops, TRU reopens
KAMLOOPS - After two days of almost constant snow, School District 73 will close schools for a second day on Tuesday, Jan. 6 though Thompson Rivers University is set to reopen. At 6:30 a.m. Monday the school district made the decision to keep schools closed because of the heavy snow and by later in the...
First snow day for North Okanagan-Shuswap students in decades
VERNON - It takes a lot for the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District to shut down schools and call for a snow day. Even on Monday with 35- 50 cm of snow accumulating around the region, the district remained hopeful school would carry on. It wasn’t until the eleventh hour — after other districts around the...
There is an end in sight to the snow
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – It’s been a long time since the Thompson-Okanagan received such a massive dump of snow in such a short time. “It has been quite an amazing snowfall so far,” Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Coldwells says. By 10 a.m. Monday, we were looking at amounts which ranged from 25 centimetres in the South Okanagan,...
Winter weather causing disruptions at Penticton Regional Airport
PENTICTON - The South Okanagan’s latest onslaught of winter weather is affecting air travel in and out of Penticton Regional Airport. Debra Williams, Corporate Communications officer for Jazz Aviation LP reported Monday morning flight operations in Penticton were being impacted by weather. Air Canada Express (Jazz) flights to and from Penticton were cancelled Sunday due...
IN TWEETS: How the heavy snowfall is affecting Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - Schools are closed, transit buses are delayed, garbage pickup is slow going and only a few side streets will likely be plowed before mid-week. Yes, it’s a snow day in Kamloops. The city has been running snow-clearing equipment 24 hours and Public Works Director Jen Fretz says they have even hired contractors to...
How to get the city to do a great job clearing snow on your street
KELOWNA - The city of Kelowna is working to get the snow off area roads and residents can help by moving vehicles from curbs and into driveways and parking lots. With heavy snowfall in the past 24 hours and more on the way the city of Kelowna is requesting cars parked curbside be moved to...
Curbside garbage and recycling collection likely delayed by heavy snow
KELOWNA – The heavy snowfall may create delays for curbside garbage and recycling collection in the Central Okanagan. The contractor, OK Environmental Waste Systems, is making every effort to follow the regular collection schedule, according to a media release from the Regional Waste Reduction Office. “But depending on the road conditions and access (the contractor)...
City work crews having a tough time keeping up with snowfall
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton reported this morning crews were being kept busy just keeping main arteries, emergency routes, steep hills and main transit routes open as snow continues to pound the city and region. “Given the significant snowfall, it’s likely crews will have to circle back and do these routes again before moving...
Travel advisories in effect for highways
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Heavy snowfall is limiting visibility on several Interior highways leading Drive B.C. to put out a travel advisory for both Highway 5 and Highway 97C. The Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Kamloops and the Okanagan Connector both have travel advisories as of 8:30 a.m. Drive B.C. asks travellers to consider alternate plans or...