It has finally happened. The Okanagan Valley bottom has reached negative temperatures and frost is now on the way.
Early Wednesday morning the temperature dipped below zero to reach a chilly -1 degree. According to Environment Canada, the last time temperatures dipped this low was at this time of the year it was 2008 and a balmy -2.4 degrees. As winter continues to creep its way towards us, Okanagan residents can expect to see frosty patches Wednesday evening as the temperature hovers around freezing.
Temperature lows are expected to remain around one degree overnight, but luckily warm up by the end of the weekend. Daily highs still remain in the mid-teens and snow is not yet in the forecast. The coldest spot in British Columbia on Tuesday was Clinton, as the temperature dropped to -4.7 degrees.
On average, Kelowna receives about 0.1 inches of snow in October as the white stuff doesn’t usually hit the ground until the beginning of November. In 2014, the first snowfall did not take place until the end of November. Most days of snowfall in Kelowna leave less than five centimetres of fresh snow on the ground. Typically on four days a year, the amount of new snow totals at least five cm.
While the snow is not in the forecast just yet, residents can expect to see frost for the rest of the week and should prepare plants and animals for the cooler conditions.
