January 26:  Is It Spring or Still Winter?

The rest of Canada has experienced a deep freeze over the last week, except the southwest corner of BC, including the Okanagan Valley.  Our weather has been quite mild here in the valley and although we have had snow, it melts off the roads in a day or two.
 I have been watching a robin who perches on the top of the pine tree outside my window.  At first, not believing that a robin would be in Vernon in mid January, I thumbed through my bird books looking for some sort of orange breasted bird that might be here in the winter; maybe some sort of wood pecker or another kind of thrush.  But when I got a good look at him, well ,it was obvious he  was a robin!  I am not sure if this is a sign of spring or a family of migratory birds who have chosen to stay put for the winter,  hearty souls that have resisted being "snow birds" just like us!

Robin in my yard January 2013

Like most communities in Canada, Vernon has its share of "snow birds". Being a very popular home for retirees, a significant part of Vernon's population is Albertans, and other flat landers who relocate here to enjoy the predictable hot summers and agreeable spring and autumn weather.  

Winter here is quite mild, average temperatures vary from just above freezing to just below freezing.  However those mild temperatures are often a result of a weather phenomena known as "the inversion", well described in a publication called "The Weather of British Columbia" http://www.navcanada.ca/contentdefinitionfiles/publications/lak/bc/3-bc31e.pdf

 "Mountain valleys allow cold air to pool, creating 

inversions. Most of the valleys have rivers       and lakes that seldom freeze up resulting in 

abundant moisture that the inversion can trap, supporting the development of low 

“valley cloud”. On the positive side, because of its location, only the strongest incursions of arctic air can force its way into this area. This being said, the temperatures in 

the area do tend to hover around freezing, and the cold surface layer can be difficult 

to remove, as the warm air moving in from the coast rides over the top of the cold air. 

The only real warming occurs with southerly winds, but this respite only lasts a few 

days as cold air is quick to re-establish itself in the valley bottoms."

This is our second winter here and we love the weather because it is mild and there are so many opportunities for winter recreation!  We have difficulty understanding why  others flee south in search of sunshine when you can simply take a 30 minute drive up to Sovereign Lake Nordic Ski area or Silver Star Mountain Resort.  You will drive through the cloud and into sunshine!  And you do not need to ski to enjoy the sunshine.  Besides cross country skiing (there are 105 km of groomed runs between the two recreation areas), or downhill skiing, or snowshoeing, or skating on an outdoor rink or walking the trails,  there are cafes, restaurants, pubs, and shops to 

browse in, and an art gallery to visit (www.galleryodin.com/), a spa, and even a bowling alley.  Check out the Silver Star Mountain Resort website (http://winter.skisilverstar.com/my-activites-events)

On Silver Star Mountain looking down at a sea of cloud in the valley

Skiing down run at Silver Star  Mountain  above the cloud

By late February inversions will be rare.  Typically there will be more snow (the annual snow fall is about 700 cm).  It tends to be what the local ski hounds call "Champagne powder", very dry and feather soft.  March will likely be sunny spring skiing but the crowds will be tapering off as skiers will be putting the skis away and taking out golf clubs, kayaks, bikes, hiking boots and garden trowels.  But we intend to follow the example of the robins in our yard, enjoying the mild winter weather and all that it offers until well into spring season!