First snowflakes of the fall for B.C.'s Interior as temperatures plummet
Freezing levels are plummeting across the B.C. Interior this week, so there will be a chance for the region's first snowflakes Thursday night.
The first chance of snow reaching the valley bottoms in B.C. this season is finally upon us.
There have been a couple of mornings in the Interior with freezing temperatures this season, but without precipitation. This will be the first time that freezing temperatures could coincide with precipitation, snowflakes, Thursday overnight through Friday morning.
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Poor driving conditions are expected across higher terrain above the snow line, with winter tires mandated on many higher elevation routes across the province.
However, this is an encouraging early-season trend, especially in contrast to last year’s slow start to the ski season.
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This week:
Timing of the cold temperatures and precipitation is key as the coldest temperatures will occur early Friday morning.
Hefty snowfall accumulations are not expected, but you can definitely see some snowflakes and a dusting. Some areas that are in the higher terrain can even accumulate a couple of centimetres. Typical places would be West Kelowna, with a slightly higher elevation than Kelowna.
Ski resorts can even get measurable snow at the mountain peaks, with totals reaching up to 10 cm or even more. Coastal mountains can also see another round of snow at the peaks, with 5-10 cm for some of the North Shore Mountains this week and another 15 cm for Whistler.
This an encouraging sign for ski resort preparations and opening-day targets, with more snowfall opportunities in the next couple of weeks.
This is an encouraging early-season trend, especially in contrast to last year’s slow start to the ski season.
Interior mountain fast facts
Sun Peaks Resort
Highest elevation: 2,080 m
SilverStar Mountain
Highest elevation: 1,950 m
Big White Ski Resort
Highest elevation: 2,319 m
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With files from Matthew Grinter, a meteorologist at The Weather Network.
