In 2023, Okanagan was the driest it害羞草研究所檚 been in more than 110 years and January害羞草研究所檚 forecast is providing little optimism that the region害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所減recipitation deficit害羞草研究所� is just a fad.
Environment Canada says Kelowna and Penticton logged record lows for rain and snow last year, with the cities seeing just 39 and 46 per cent of their normal precipitation levels, respectively.
Although snow is in the forecast for most of the region this week, meteorologists aren害羞草研究所檛 convinced it will provide much relief for the drought-like conditions.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to see some snow and that害羞草研究所檚 going to make driving difficult for people on the highways but it害羞草研究所檚 not going to do anything to alleviate the long-term, drought conditions that we have seen,害羞草研究所� said Brian Proctor, a meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Dry conditions in the Okanagan were complimented by warmer-than-normal temperatures in 2023. Year-end statistics for the Shuswap were not made available, however, Proctor says cities like Salmon Arm still find themselves in a deficit as 2024 begins.
Penticton
Mean temperature in 2023: 10.6 C (fourth warmest on record dating back to 1909)
Normal: 9.5 C
Total precipitation in 2023: 160.43 mm (second driest on record dating back to 1909)
Normal: 346 mm
Kelowna
Mean temperature in 2023: 10.4 C (third warmest on record dating back 1904)
Normal: 8.1 C
Total precipitation in 2023: 152.5 mm (driest on record dating back to 1903)
Normal: 386.9 mm
Vernon
Mean temperature in 2023: 10 C (warmest on record dating back to 1902)
Normal: 7.7 C
Precipitation data not available
害羞草研究所淥ur winter to this point has been dominated by El Ni帽o,害羞草研究所� Proctor said, referring to the weather phenomenon that typically brings milder temperatures. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 brought this warm air up and spotty precipitation if anything.害羞草研究所�
Proctor did note that Penticton recorded normal monthly precipitation levels through December.
But that, combined with January害羞草研究所檚 minimal snowfall projection, won害羞草研究所檛 be enough to erase what害羞草研究所檚 been a drier-than-normal period region-wide. It害羞草研究所檚 also bringing along several concerns at the federal office, some that could even extend into this summer.
害羞草研究所淚f we don害羞草研究所檛 get a lot of snowpack in the winter time, we have a problem with water resource allocations moving into the spring, which impacts agriculture,害羞草研究所� he explained. 害羞草研究所淭he second issue relates to wildfires害羞草研究所ithout that precipitation in the winter, it exacerbates the drought situation even further.害羞草研究所�
Proctor says the region can expect around five centimetres of snow on Jan. 5, or closer to 10 cm at the higher elevations. Temperatures through Jan. 8 aren害羞草研究所檛 expected to fall below -2 C, according to projections made by the federal forecaster.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a very significant drought situation and we害羞草研究所檙e not seeing much in terms of snowpack up on the higher elevations yet either, which is more concerning than not having rainfall, Proctor said.
害羞草研究所淣ot having snowpack is going to be potentially very problematic going forward.害羞草研究所�
