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December 31, 2020 - 11:32 AM
Kamloops's forecast promises to see 2020 end with a final wintery blast, with the mercury expected to rise just in time to begin 2021.
Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan says a “parade of storms” incoming from the Pacific Ocean has pretty much “turned off” the province’s high pressure ridge, resulting in warmer than normal conditions for the entire province.
He says other than for some modified Arctic air experienced in October, the city continues to see a delayed start to real winter conditions.
Castellan says snow tonight, Dec. 31, will be followed by continuing active conditions, but along with warmer air, showers will likely be predominate into the first week of January.
"Kamloops could see a high close to the double digits on Saturday, 10 to 11 degrees above normal," he says.
The city could see five centimetres of snow overnight tonight, but that will be accompanied by gusty east winds that are expected to bring temperatures to 3 Celsius by New Year's Day on Friday.
It won’t be a sunny start to the new year in Kamloops, but it’s expected to be a warm one, with highs of 6 C on Friday, Jan. 1, rising to 8 C on Saturday.
Kamloops normally sees a high of -1 C and a low of -8 C in early January.
Tonight’s snow is expected to turn into a 60 per cent chance of showers, decreasing to 30 per cent Friday night.
The Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt could see 10 cm fall tonight and another 10 cm tomorrow, with lesser amounts falling on the Merritt to Kamloops section.
There’s a 40 per cent chance of showers through Saturday and into Sunday, with a high of 7 C expected Sunday.
The city may see a few flurries overnight Sunday with a low of 0 C expected.
A series of Pacific frontal systems moving into the B.C. Interior is expected to bring warm temperatures and showers to the city through the first week of 2021.
The weather so far this winter is contrary to a long term forecast calling for a colder and snowier than normal winter.
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