Kamloops will continue to experience mild weather this week until the first official day of winter on Friday, Dec. 21, when temperatures are expected to return to more seasonal normals.

(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

KAMLOOPS - Kamloops residents can expect a few more balmy days before more seasonal temperatures return later in the week.

Environment Canada meteorologist Matt MacDonald says the city hit a record high of 10.5 Celsius on Friday, Dec. 14, the warmest that day has been since records began in 1890.

"It's been incredibly mild and super dry so far this month," MacDonald says. Temperatures have averaged about three degrees warmer than normal so far this month.

Rain and snow have also been noticeably absent from Kamloops to date in December. Normally this month the city receives around 22 centimeters of snow but Environment Canada has recorded just a trace so far. As well, the city usually sees close to 7.1 mm of rain, but so far in December only 0.6 mm has fallen.

For residents hoping for a white Christmas this year, MacDonald offers some hope, as the long-term forecast predicts the possibility of a chance of snow on Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day.

This week, daytime highs are expected to nearly reach double digits through Thursday, when a change is expected to bring a drop in temperatures on Friday, Dec. 21, the first official day of winter.

The city should see a mix of sun and cloud today, Dec. 17, with a 40 per cent chance of showers late in the afternoon and an east wind at 20 gusting to 60 km/h this afternoon, a high of 9 Celsius and a low of 6 C.

Tomorrow will be similar with a 40 per cent chance of showers in the morning, an east wind at 20 gusting to 40 km/h, a high of 9 C and a low of 2 C.

The forecast calls for a mainly sunny day on Wednesday with a high of 9 C and a low of 3 C.

Showers return Thursday with a high of 8 C, giving way to a mix of sun and cloud on Friday — the first official day of winter — with the daytime high dropping to 1 C and a low of -5 C.

Normal temperatures for this time of year in Kamloops are highs of 0 C and lows of -7 C.

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