City of Kamloops crews removing a snow pile from the city's west end on Monday (Jan. 10). Image Credit: Adam Donnelly / CFJC Today

By Dylana Kneeshaw

CHANGING WEATHER

Warmer temperatures melting snow around Kamloops, residents reminded to keep catch basins clear

Jan 10, 2022 | 4:40 PM

KAMLOOPS — According to latest forecasts from Environment Canada, the cold spell that arrived last month in Kamloops is on its way out.

“Last night was the last day of that really cold weather regime,” meteorologist Doug Lundquist explains. “We’re into a warmer regime now which means highs just near zero, or in fact, a few days from now on Thursday we’re forecasting plus six.”

While Lundquist notes the temperatures will feel like a nice reprieve from the biting cold of December, there is some caution about this week. When warmer temperatures are combined with frozen ground and rainfall, the area could be subject to extremely icy conditions in between melting periods.

“It looks like a really tricky pattern for the next little while for us commuting and walking,” he says, “So we’ll have to try and be as safe as possible. Plan to give yourself extra time to get from point A to point B.”

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The City of Kamloops is asking residents to be prepared for potentially slippery streets or sidewalks, and to make sure catch basins on the roadways are cleared for any melting snow to be drained properly.

“This time of year, when we start seeing the warmer weather, it really becomes a full civic operations event here.” Kamloops Utility Services Manager Greg Wightman says. “Where we’ve got streets out still doing the snow clearing obviously, but then our utilities crews are out now starting to clear catch basins. We’re using a lot of our heavy equipment to do that for some of the bigger main arterials and that’s where we ask for the help of residents. We’ve got 7,500 catch basins in this town so we’re working hard but we’re never going to get to all of those. So the more help we can get the better.”

Crews will be busy clearing snow piles where they can this week, to be stored at the operations yard for drainage when it melts. And in the meantime, the City is urging residents to use its online mapping tool to find nearby catch basins and check for any blockage.

“Keep those things clear,” Wightman reiterates. “If they’re clear and they’re open, we’ll make sure that the water can get away from your house and the streets and keep everybody safe.”

To report any street flooding, or snow clearing issues, Kamloops civic operations can be reached at 250-828-3461.