Winter wonderland expected to last few more days in Kamloops, Okanagan

It's a messy winter day in Kamloops and the Okanagan today, and according to Environment Canada it's not going to get much better any time soon.

It's slow going on many roads and highways throughout the region today, Feb. 12, thanks to all the new snow, with delays and a few flight cancellations at the Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton airports and the Coquihalla Highway was closed southbound this afternoon.

Environment Canada meteorologist Bobby Sekhon says Kamloops and the Okanagan got anywhere from three to five centimetres — and in some areas upwards of 10 cm — of new snow fall last night and this morning making the commute surprisingly slippery for many. The snow is expected to taper off this afternoon, but not before another two to four cms falls.

The weather system bringing all the snow has impacted southern regions more than the north, but even so, he says the highest snowfall amounts in the province are happening to the west and east of the Thompson-Okanagan.

Clearing skies tomorrow will give way to another round of snow Thursday afternoon and Sekhon says the amounts should be similar to what fell last night and today. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly, with daytime highs moderating but still falling short of average highs for this time of year.

Several flights have been delayed or cancelled at the airports in Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton today. 

Air Canada had at least one cancelled flight today at the Kelowna Airport, with WestJet and Pacific Coastal reporting delays. Air Canada’s morning flight from Vancouver to Penticton Regional Airport was cancelled, but both Air Canada and WestJet schedules show afternoon flights as on time.  At Kamloops Airport, Air Canada cancelled its 7:14 a.m. Vancouver flight, while both Air Canada and WestJet experienced delays this morning, with this afternoon's flights expected to be on time.

Of course, it's always best to check with your airline before heading to the airport.

For Okanagan commuters, the timing for opening of the Callan Road detour on Monday couldn’t have been better, as the former alternate routes utilizing forest service roads were already under winter conditions without last night’s additional snow.

As bad as it feels in the Thompson-Okanagan, severe winter weather is also affecting B.C.’s Lower Mainland today. Snow is falling at Vancouver International Airport, although the airport reports operations are running smoothly today.

Public transit, schools and ferry services have been affected by two storms that have slammed into the Lower Mainland in as many days, dumping 23 cm in Victoria, and 11 cm in Abbotsford, according to the Vancouver Sun.

Ontario is also getting pummelled with winter weather, as Toronto faces a winter storm that is expected to dump between 15 and 20 cm on the city today. A winter storm warning issued by Environment Canada this afternoon calls for freezing rain, ice pellets and strong winds, with an additional five cm expected overnight in Hogtown.

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