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Record warm November shifts into frigid December

Vernon residents should be breaking out their winter gear as we roll into an icy December, following record-warm November
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Vernon's first snowfall blankets the region.

Despite a record-warm November, Vernon residents should be breaking out their winter gear as we roll into an icy December.

“Certainly from the record warmth we had in November it’s going to be quite the change for December,” said Ross Macdonald, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.

The average monthly temperature for November in Vernon is usually around 0.6 C, but this year it hit 6.1.

“It’s the warmest on record,” said Macdonald.

Kelowna, Cranbrook and Vancouver also experienced a record month.

“In Vernon we usually see daytime maximum temperatures that reach double digits only a few times in the month of November.

“We saw 13 of the first 14 days.”

But things are changing.

“The switch into winter is right on cue,” said Macdonald as a few centimetres of snow blanketed the region Friday.

With the snow comes plummeting temperatures.

“We’re going to see overnight lows in the double digits,” said Macdonald as a reverse trend sweeps in with December.

Snowfall will end tonight with a high of -1. Saturday is calling for a 40 per cent chance of showers and high of 3.

Sunday’s forecast is a chance of flurries or rain showers and a high of 1, overnight low of -5. Monday is calling for sun and cloud, a high of -1 and overnight low of  -6. Then the chill factor is expected to increase Tuesday with a high of -4, while reaching -10 overnight. The same nightly trend continues Wednesday (with a chance of flurries) and a daytime high of -5, followed by -6 Thursday (with a chance of flurries).

“It will actually be quite dry, at least through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, but cold,” said Macdonald.

“We’re looking, I think, at a more normal winter and certainly cooler than last year.”

Vernon, and much of the south, experienced a much warmer than normal winter last year.

“With the absence of El Nino it’s more favourable for skiers this year as it is going to be cooler than normal.”

While it’s still too early to tell, chances are better that we might have a white Christmas.

“We have a six in ten chance,” said Macdonald, going from Kelowna white Christmas statistics which date back to 1953.

 



Jennifer Smith

About the Author: Jennifer Smith

Vernon has always been my home, and I've been working at The Morning Star since 2004.
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