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January 18, 2016 - 8:30 AM
OKANAGAN - The mercury is staying above seasonal normals and the snow is expected to subside as we head into another warm winter week.
Environment Canada is calling for overnight lows of just -2 Celsius to 1 C all week, above the seasonal normal low of -5 C. Daytime highs in Vernon and Kelowna are expected to reach about 2 C early in the week with a high of 5 C expected Thursday, the warmest day in the forecast this week.
Penticton is expected to see a high of 5 C today, Jan. 18, and Thursday, with Wednesday expected to be the coldest day, with a high of 2 C in the forecast. The seasonal normal high temperature at this time of year is 0 C throughout the Okanagan.
Along with the warmer temperatures comes at least a chance of flurries or rain every day this week.
While the weekend brought snow and warmer weather in town, area highways were also hit hard with a mix of rain and snow. Nearly 20 centimetres of snow accumulated at the Coquihalla Summit over the weekend and another 7 to 14 cm is expected by Tuesday morning.
Pennask Summit on Highway 97C had slightly less snow over the weekend, only about 5 cm of accumulation, and another 4 cm is expected by tomorrow morning. About 4 cm of snow accumulated at Allison Pass on Highway 3 this weekend and another couple centimetres is expected this morning.
Drive B.C. is reporting compact snow along with slushy or slippery sections on many Interior highways, along with fog patches on Highway 1 near Kamloops, Highway 5 north of Kamloops, the Okanagan Connector and Highway 3 from Keremeos through Osoyoos. Black ice is also being reported on Highway 1 near Spences Bridge.
If you are heading out to play in the backcountry, be aware of the avalanche risk, which is considered moderate to considerable in all Southern Interior ranges, according to Avalanche Canada.
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, 2016