First snowfall of the year in Okanagan, Kamloops expected Saturday

Meteorologists are anticipating the first snow of the year in Kamloops and the Okanagan this Saturday. Environment Canada is forecasting snow in Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton on Saturday. Kamloops has a chance of wet snow with more accumulation in neighbourhoods at higher elevations. The mercury is expected to rise to around 1 Celsius in the Okanagan on Saturday while Kamloops will be a bit warmer with a daytime high of 4 C. The snow probably won’t be sticking around since the weather office is calling for rain and a high of 6 C in the Okanagan and 8 C in Kamloops on Sunday. Environment Canada meteorologist Trevor Smith said people in the Okanagan can expect about two centimetres of snow starting around midday on Saturday. Smith said folks in Kamloops could see a mix of rain and snow based on their elevation. “Towards Kamloops airport it's probably going to be rain and snow. But they've got higher elevation communities in Kamloops, like Aberdeen, that are up around 700, 900 metres above sea level. They could definitely see a few more centimetres of snow, but in downtown Kamloops, probably just a couple of centimetres,” he said. The snow in the valley bottoms in the Okanagan is likely going to melt on Sunday when temperatures rise, but the mountain passes are going to see some accumulation. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about BC's winter tire rules https://infotel.ca/inwheels/everything-you-need-to-know-about-bcs-winter-tire-rules/it106639 Smith said the mountain passes could get around 5 cm starting on Saturday and falling through Sunday. “I think the awareness piece for the public is more the travelling in the passes east and west of the Okanagan,” Smith said. The Okanagan Connector and Coquihalla Highway have already seen some snow, and drivers are required to have their snow tires. A larger storm front is forecast to come through the southern Interior next week around Tuesday. “The passes are probably going to get hit hard with snow and we'll just have to keep an eye out for the valley bottom temperature to figure out exactly how much snow might fall. Stay tuned to the forecast for next week,” he said. To contact a reporter for this story, email Jesse Tomas mailto:jtomas@infonews.ca  or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here. https://infotel.ca/newsitem/code-of-ethics/it106782 We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .