Wondering about the chances for a white Christmas this year?

Meteorologist pegs chance of snow on Christmas Day in valley bottom at 33%

The chance of a white Christmas is looking slim for Kelowna this year. Kelowna residents woke up to a dusting of snow Tuesday morning, but most of it melted away by noon.

After a cold spell last week, the rest of this week is expected to be mild, said Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist.

Today’s forecast high in Kelowna is 2 C, with a 60 per cent chance of flurries or rain showers and an overnight low of zero, according to Environment Canada.

Thursday has a forecast high of 6 C with a 60 per cent chance of showers and an overnight low of 3 C.

The normal high for this time of year in Kelowna is -1 C to zero, and the normal low is around -7 C to -5 C.

“It’s several degrees above average,” said Lundquist.

In eight to 10 days, there is an indication the temperatures may drop, he said.

“If it cools down, maybe we might be lucky and get a white Christmas.”

On average, there is a 50-50 chance of a white Christmas down at the lake in Kelowna, said Lundquist.

“I would say this year it’s less than that — probably a one-third chance by the lake that we have a white Christmas.”

At higher elevations, including Joe Rich, there is almost a 100 per cent chance of a white Christmas, said Lundquist.

“The question is how far down the mountain will that be for Christmas Day,” he said. “My kids want Christmas to be white, so I’m working hard to make it happen.”

The average snowfall in December for Kelowna is 32 centimetres.

“This year we have El Nino, which will give us perhaps a warmer winter,” said Lundquist.

Environment Canada issued warnings for Interior highways on Tuesday in anticipation of heavy snow. Around 20-25 cm of snow was expected on the Coquihalla Highway.

“We’re in a really wet pattern here for the next week or 10 days,” said Lundquist.

People traveling to the Lower Mainland or to Alberta are encouraged to check the weather forecast daily, as conditions could change, he said.

“All the way through to early next week, it’s a pattern of Pacific low pressure systems, storm after storm.”

My kids want Christmas to be white, so I’m working hard to make it happen.

Doug Lundquist