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December 20, 2022 - 2:46 PM
A very cold Arctic air mass is parked over southern Interior dropping temperatures into the danger zone through until Thursday.
An extreme cold warning was issued this afternoon, Dec. 20, for the North and South Thompson, the Shuswap, the North and Central Okanagan along with the Similikameen. The regions include Kamloops, Vernon and Kelowna.
Environment Canada said the frigid air has settled over the regions.
Expect temperatures near -25 C to -30 C with northeast winds up to 15 km/h resulting in wind chill values near -40 C.
READ MORE: iN TRAFFIC: Expect terrible driving conditions on Thompson-Okanagan roadways
Temperatures will slowly rise Thursday and Friday, raising wind chill values above -35 C.
While the weather office is calling for milder temperatures in the South Okanagan, including Penticton, they aren't that mild with windchills around -25 C expected over the same time period.
"Watch for cold related symptoms: shortness of breath, chest pain, muscle pain and weakness, numbness and colour change in fingers and toes," the extreme cold warning states. "If it’s too cold for you to stay outside, it’s too cold for your pet to stay outside.
"Extreme cold warnings are issued when very cold temperatures or wind chill creates an elevated risk to health such as frost bite and hypothermia.”
For the latest on the weather warnings issued by Environment Canada check out the public weather alert page here.
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