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November 28, 2014 - 7:49 AM
EXPECT COLD AND WIND THIS WEEKEND
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The system forecast to bring cold temperatures, wind and some snow to the region has engulfed Kamloops this morning and will fully reach Penticton by Saturday.
Strong winds began in Kamloops Thursday afternoon and temperatures dropped to -7 Celsius by this morning. Over the day Friday temperatures will continue to drop to -10 C and winds will diminish slightly, but will remain strong through Saturday. The wind is also causing a windchill that is cooling the air by 10 degrees this morning.
The system will have temperatures remain in the -10 C range for highs but will drop to -13 C to -16 C overnight for the next four days before warming to -4 C on Tuesday, according to Environment Canada. Kamloops reached a high of nearly 11 C on Thursday.
Heading into the Okanagan, temperatures remain at about 5-8 C this morning but should drop this afternoon to -6 in Vernon and Kelowna and 0 C in Penticton. Highs will reach in the -8 C to -10 C throughout the Okanagan over the next few days but will drop to as low as -14 C overnight during that same time.
Strong, gusty winds already blowing in the North, Central and South Okanagan should continue this afternoon. The entire region is expected to have a mix of rain and snow today along with a 40 per cent chance of snow Saturday. Temperatures reached about 9 C in Penticton and nearly 4 C in Vernon and Kelowna on Thursday.
The system comes on the heels of a heavy snowfall and fast melt. Avalanche Canada has issued an avalanche warning for most backcountry areas because of the quick changes we have seen in the snowpack over the past week.
Normal seasonal temperatures are about 2 C and -4 C.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014