Stay frosty, Okanagan

Photo: Contributed

UPDATE 10:50 a.m.

Meteorologist Doug Lundquist tells Castanet, "Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton have had their coldest nights of the winter over the last three nights."

Lundquist says Vernon dropped to -21.5 overnight on Monday, Penticton hit their coldest night of the year at -18.6 Tuesday and Kelowna broke the previous record for coldest night of the year, (set Tuesday night) Wednesday.

The coldest nights of the year for the Okanagan were the last three nights, "three nights in a row that were the coldest night of the year, Vernon was the first, Penticton was the second and Kelowna was today (Wednesday)."

ORIGINAL 8:11 a.m.

"It's cold but it's not record-breaking," says Environment Canada meteorologist Cindy Yu.

That's cold comfort for Okanagan residents who are typically starting to think about spring at this time of year.

The record books may not concur, but the thermometer doesn't lie. One thermometer near Beaverdell in the Okanagan was pushing -28 C on Tuesday.

Official records for Wednesday, Feb. 21 range from -22.8 C in Kelowna; to -22.2 C in Penticton and -20.6 C in Vernon.

We are within decimal points of breaking records, and Penticton did break a record set back in 1986 when it was -18 C, Tuesday it was -18.6 C!

Some of the records we are talking about were set back in 1910. If you remember that, you deserve a lifetime achievement award.

For the rest of us, just opening the door is a challenge, let alone walking outside for any length of time.

Yu also says the cold snap is going to stick around until mid-week next week and there is a chance of snow, possibly Wednesday, Friday and again on Sunday. The only good piece of information in all of this is according to Yu, at least it warms up slightly when it snows.