The snow is just beginning to fall in Vernon on Dec. 16, 2024.

(HOWARD ALEXANDER / iNFOnews.ca)

The first significant snowfall of the year at lower elevations in the Thompson-Okanagan region is underway today.

Kamloops and the Okanagan are expecting up to four centimetres of snow today, Dec. 16, but it might not stick around due to milder temperatures forecast later this week.

Kamloops is expected to get around 2 cm of snow today with the temperature steady around -1 Celsius, and a low of -7 C with the wind chill tonight, according to Environment Canada.

Kamloops could get snow or rain tomorrow with a low of 1 C. Environment Canada expects it to be as warm as 5 C on Wednesday.

Vernon and Kelowna are expecting 2 cm to 4 cm of snow ending around midnight with a high of -1 C and a low of -7 C tonight. Those two cities could get snow or rain tomorrow with a high of 0 C and a low of -1 C. Both cities are expected to get some rain on Wednesday with a high of 3 C.

The forecast calls for snow today in Penticton, but with a high of 1 C, the weather office isn’t predicting any significant accumulation. Tomorrow, Penticton could get some flurries or rain with a high of 3 C and a low of -1 C. Rain is expected on Wednesday with a high of 3 C.

Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan said precipitation during these temperatures can be difficult to predict in the valley bottoms.

“There may be a bit of a switch to a rain snow mix or even straight up rain. It is what it is. That is the way the cookie crumbles in valley communities,” he said.

If you hitting the highways, you'll want to make sure you've got winter tires.

“For the Interior, people traveling at this time of year in particular on various highway systems have to anticipate that there's likely to be snow,” Castellan said. “Because it will be windy, you could see some of whatever has fallen or what will fall as blowing snow. So, visibility could be a concern there as well.”

The Coquihalla Highway from Merritt to Kamloops could get between 2 to 4 cm today, with around 5 cm from Hope to Merritt before the snowfall ends this evening. The Okanagan Connector is also expecting up to 4 cm of snow today with some gusty winds. The Trans-Canada Highway from Eagle Pass to Rogers Pass is expecting some light snow this afternoon with around 2 cm to 4 cm by tonight and a chance of flurries tomorrow morning. 

Skiers and snowboarders can expect new snow at Big White Ski Resort, Apex Mountain Resort, SilverStar Mountain Resort and Sun Peaks Resort with temperatures between -3 C and -10 C this week. SilverStar has the warmest forecasted temperature, it could have a high of 0 C later this week with a chance for a mix of rain and snow on Friday.

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