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No end in sight for cold snap

These sub-zero temperatures are expected to continue well into next week
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Icy roads slowed the morning commute

The snow continues to fall in several areas of Okanagan region and there is no signs of it slowly down over the next few days.

Environment Canada meteorologist Ross MacDonald says the local snow is all part of the same weather pattern impacting the entire southern half of the province right now.

“We are all in it together. We are seeing snow in the Southwestern portion of the Okanagan, through Kelowna and into the Thompson and Kamloops as well,” says MacDonald.

“The heavier amounts are confined to the coastal region, some areas of Vancouver Island are topping over 10 centimetres right now and Metro Vancouver is starting to accumulate as well.”

The coast is still bracing for the snow storm which has already seen the B.C. Legislature in Victoria covered in fresh powder.

“The snow is fashionably late down there, but it is coming.”

As for the Okanagan, MacDonald says snow will continue to blanket the area.

“There is two to four centimetres in the forecast for today and two to four centimetres for tonight. All-in-all, we will see upwards of five to ten centimetres over the Okanagan this weekend.”

He notes that the major story here is the sub-zero temperatures which will hold their grip over the region well into next week.

“With daytime highs in Kelowna usually at about 0 C, this arctic air has the area struggling to get to -8 C – that trend is continuing. Later this weekend there is a re-infusion of cold arctic air coming down again which will push temperatures down again,” explains MacDonald.

He says the entire valley region will struggle to break a daytime high of -10 C and can expect overnight lows of -17 C.

“It will be sunny, but it will be cold,” says MacDonald.

“That outlook looks like it will continue all next week, right to Friday at least. It is a prolonged cold snap.

“There is no respite in sight.”