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January 7, 2015
▼ SCHOOLS CLOSED
Inside
Central Okanagan overwhelmed by snow KATHY MICHAELS
New Year’s bundle of joy Miller John Thompson of Lake Country was the first baby born at Kelowna General Hospital for 2015. ...............................
3
Hunting regulations Proposed changes upsetting to B.C. hunters ...............................
Voters decide
9
CN Rail purchase open houses planned to outline AAP voting process ..................
8
Flyers ■ Coopers
■ Home Depot ■ Hometown ■ JYSK ■ Rona
■ Shoppers Drug Mart
Activity around the Central Okanagan was frozen by what’s shaping up to be a record-breaking snowfall. “It’s not quite over yet, but I’d say we’re pretty close to setting a record,” said Doug Lundquist, meteorologist for Environment Canada, Monday afternoon. “This is the heaviest snow any of us can remember in at least 20 years.” The region’s heaviest snowfall to-date was 32.5 cm, recorded at the Kelowna airport Jan. 17 and 18, 1975. By mid-afternoon Monday, that mark was being closed in on, but snow was expected to fall for another 24 hours. Once it passed, freezing rain was on the agenda. The cause for the unusual dump of snow came from what Lundquist called “a clash of the air masses.” Moist warm air coming in from the south, near Hawaii and California, collided with a cold blast of winter air coming in from Alberta. “We are in the in-between zone,” he said. “It’s a clash of air masses—a big clash.” The result caused the region to come to a virtual standstill. As is often the case, it caused a number of delays and cancellations
OYAMA toddler
Winter Starr, 1, was waist deep playing in the snow on Monday.
KARI CROSBY/CONTRIBUTOR
at the airport and for the first time in nearly four decades schools in the Central Okanagan School District were closed. The school district reported that while there was a minimal administrative presence at all schools, teachers and support staff were not at work.
Both UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College were open in the morning, but as weather and travel conditions worsened, both schools decided to cancel classes that started at noon or later. The Lake Country municipal hall was closed Monday due to the snow, as were a number of out-
door destinations such as the Stuart Park ice rink in Kelowna. Regional snow removal crews were particularly busy and calls were made for all hands on deck. Municipal staff requested that residents help the snow-clearing process by moving their vehicles off the roads.
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Without vehicles in the way, crews are much more efficient and able to get through each area more quickly and on to the next section of road. While the district kept the roads clear, residents were asked to clear snow from their private driveways and sidewalks adjacent to their property.
Local fire departments also asked residents to clear snow away from nearby fire hydrants. The Central Okanagan Regional District says you should be self-sufficient with emergency supplies for at least 72 hours. More information is available at cordemergency.ca.
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