A cold snap is on the way for the Okanagan with temperatures expected to dip into the negatives as early as today. The colder weather could put crops at risk, including cherries. According to Global BC’s Chief Meteorologist, Mark Madryga, it will be even colder as the week progresses.
“A rapid change in temperatures is on the way to all parts of British Columbia. The arctic front, which is the leading edge of the really cold arctic air, is going to move through Prince George, roll through the Caribou, and then into the Okanagan ,” said Madryga.
“Temperatures in the Okanagan Valley will drop on Tuesday afternoon and a lot more cold air moving in for the remainder of the week. By Thursday, Friday morning, we could easily be in the -15 degree range.”
“The forecast is looking a little bit better than initially thought,” said BC Cherry Association president Sukhpal Bal.
“If it stays around -11 to -13, which is still cold, there may be a bit of damage, but I think so far, we’re still optimistic that we’ve got a reasonably sized cherry crop for this upcoming season. We do have some damage in the valley, potentially some minor damage to the cherry crop already. It is the extreme cold weather that appears all of a sudden that can do damage before the blossom even has a chance to open.”
Although the cold weather is concerning for farmers, there are steps that can be taken to protect crops from the colder air.
In some areas, farmers will use helicopters for the same reason and trees are normally planted in a way to protect from cold air. However, despite temperatures dipping into the negatives, it’s not colder than normal for this time of year.
“There is an indication that temperatures will come up several degrees into next week but still stay chilly,” said Madryga.
Source: Global News