Low clouds sticking around

Too soon to say if there will be a white Christmas, says meteorologist

The low clouds blanketing the Okanagan will likely stick around for another week, says Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa West.

The thick clouds moved into the valley on Tuesday, and are expected to stay until next weekend.

“You’re stuck in this low level cloud situation due to the ridge of high pressure sitting above the province,” said West.

“At least in the short term forecast, there aren’t any strong weather systems set to kick this ridge off to the east.”

Sunshine will be around in the Okanagan, but it will require a bit of a road trip.

“Those that feel the need for some sunshine and a break from the darkness can head up to higher terrain on the ski resorts or even at the summit area of the Okanagan Connector,” said West.

The low level cloud is a widespread phenomenon across the entire interior of B.C., she said. “It’s practically everywhere.” The last time the Okanagan had an extended period of thick low level cloud was in 2013 between Oct. 20 and Oct. 25, said West.

The average daily maximum temperature in Kelowna in December is 0.7 C, and lately the daily highs have ranged from 1.9 C and 4.8 C, said West.

In Kelowna, the average snowfall in December is 32 centimetres.

So far this month, three cm of snow has fallen.

With Christmas still more than two weeks away, it is too early to tell if the Okanagan will have a white Christmas, said West.

The chance of a white Christmas in any given year based on data from 1955 to 2015, where there is at least two centimetres of snow on the ground on Christmas Day, is 62 per cent in Kelowna.

The chance of a perfect Christmas, which is at least two cm of snow on the ground and snow at some point in the air on Christmas Day, is 26 per cent.

The forecast high in Kelowna today is 3 C with an overnight low of -2.

In Penticton, the forecast high today is 2 C with an overnight low of -2 C.

On Sunday, the forecast high in Kelowna and Penticton is 4 C with an overnight low of -2 C.

The record high for Dec. 9 in Kelowna was 12.2 C in 1956 and the record low was -21.7 C in 1927.

The record high for Dec. 9 in Penticton was 11.7 C in 1956. The record low was -17 C in 1992.