Skip to content

Dreaming of a white Christmas?

The last snowfall this week will hit just before the end of the week leaving conditions for an overcast, but white Christmas morning.
10211kelownaoyama
Oyama

While conditions are warming up significantly this week, Environment Canada believes we will still have a white Christmas.

Environment Canada meteorologist Ross MacDonald says this change in weather was predicted.

“We've seen the change we were expecting with the departure of the cold, cold air,” says MacDonald. “We've switched to an on-shore flow right through the province with much milder conditions that have flushed the arctic air out.”

MacDonald says the Okanagan and Shuswap can expect some more wind and snow this evening.

“The weather transition has brought snow,” says MacDonald. “We are going to get more snow tonight with a weather system that is approaching the coast now. A further five to 10 centimetres throughout the area starting near midnight and continuing through the morning.”

That same system will bring 10-20 centimetres of fresh snow to the mountain highway passes as well.

“Winter driving conditions are definitely expected.”

MacDonald says Sunday night's and Monday morning's gale force winds will return tonight with a little less power.

“The area saw wind gusts last night up to 70 km/h out of the south, 50 km/h – gusting to 70 km/h,” says MacDonald.

“Monday night the winds will pick up again, but it shouldn't be as strong, wind gusts in the 50-60 km/h range. Certainly blowing snow and hazardous driving is possible.”

The last snowfall this week will hit just before the end of the week leaving conditions for an overcast, but white Christmas morning.

“Another shot of snow is forecast for Thursday night/Friday with temperatures staying much more seasonal. Highs of -1 C or zero,” says MacDonald.

“The 'big day' is certainly shaping up as a nice white Christmas.”

For coastal communities that received far more snow than average over the last two weeks, the snow is started to wash away as temperatures rise, which may ruin their hopes of a white Christmas morning.

“There is going to be some disappointed people there I think,” adds MacDonald.

For your local weather conditions click the current weather graphic at the top right corner of this page.

Have a great weather photo or video to share? Head to our Facebook page and share it with us!