Temperatures are expected to cool off this week in the Okanagan.
(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
December 14, 2015 - 8:48 AM
OKANAGAN - The temperatures will drop back below 0 Celsius this week after a long run of weather warmer than seasonal normals in the Okanagan.
Environment Canada is calling for the mercury to stay around 2 C to 4 C throughout the region today, Dec. 14, but then the overnight temperature will drop to as low as -5 C, marking the return of sub-zero temperatures.
Highs the rest of the week are expected to range from 0 C to -3 C while overnight lows will range from -3 C to -6 C this week. Seasonal normal temperatures are a high of 0 C and a low of -5 C.
Along with the cooler temperatures we can expect a mix of sun and cloud with a chance of flurries most days this week.
A special public avalanche warning remains in place through the end of the day today for a large swath of the Central Columbia Mountains, including portions of the Kootenay-Boundary, South Columbia, North Columbia and Cariboo ranges.
Low elevation, open terrain is the biggest concern.
“This situation is a bit unusual,” Karl Klassen of Avalanche Canada says. “These areas below treeline are often considered as safe playgrounds. But with this current condition, we have had many reports of unexpected avalanches that are definitely large enough to cause injury or death.”
Other areas of these ranges are considered a low to moderate risk of avalanche through Wednesday.
Highway conditions are typical winter conditions, according to Drive B.C. reports, with fog, compact snow, slushy sections, slippery sections and black ice being reported on many Interior highways, along with limited visibility in blowing snow in some areas. Highway 12 near Lytton is still closed due to a rockslide. Blasting will take place today.
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, 2015