Winter

Tires displaying the 3-peaked mountain/snowflake symbol and M+S (mud and snow) tires both meet the legal requirement as long as they have least 3.5 mm of tread. Do you know where winter tires originated? (Black Press file photo)

QUIZ: Are you ready for winter travel?

During snowy and icy conditions, getting around can have unique challenges

 

3:59 a.m. - Usually bustling with life, Courtenay’s Connect Centre stands lifeless, hosting more than double its capacity as the region experiences its coldest night of the year. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

Out cold: Spending the coldest night of the year with Courtenay’s homeless

On the night of Jan.11, the temperature in the Comox Valley plummeted…

 

Okanagan Lake in Penticton on Jan. 12, 2023. Tempertures with the windchill are reaching lows of below -30 C. (Brennan Phillips/Western News)

PHOTOS: ‘Waterspout’ above Okanagan Lake as extreme cold hits Penticton

Temperatures with the windchill reaching marks of below -30 C

 

An unusually mild start to winter in Quebec is dampening spirits in a province otherwise known for its vibrant winter culture. People walk on the snowless streets in Old Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

‘False start for winter’ in Quebec disappoints tourists, forces cities to adapt

Mild conditions continued into the first week of January in Montreal

An unusually mild start to winter in Quebec is dampening spirits in a province otherwise known for its vibrant winter culture. People walk on the snowless streets in Old Montreal, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Fernie Alpine Resort on opening weekend in December 2023. The resort opened as scheduled in 2023, compared to other skil hills throughout the province that had to delay opening or close briefly. (Gillian Francis)

Snowfall bolsters B.C.’s ski hills, but resorts understand need to diversify

Ski resort operators used to the ebbs, flows of winter weather: Canada West Ski Areas Association CEO

Fernie Alpine Resort on opening weekend in December 2023. The resort opened as scheduled in 2023, compared to other skil hills throughout the province that had to delay opening or close briefly. (Gillian Francis)
Do you know how many players are on a typical curling team? (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)

QUIZ: A salute to winter activities

There is plenty to do when the temperature drops and snow is in the air

Do you know how many players are on a typical curling team? (Aman Parhar/Omineca Express)
The first ski shop at Big White Ski Resort created and founded by Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn. (Contributed by Cliff Serwa)

Climbing that Big White mountain: the birth of Kelowna’s signature ski hill

Best friends they were 12, Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn created Kelowna’s ski resort

The first ski shop at Big White Ski Resort created and founded by Cliff Serwa and Doug Mervyn. (Contributed by Cliff Serwa)
Snow-covered cattle stand in a pasture near Didsbury, Alta., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. It could be a long, lean winter in cattle country, as drought-ravaged western Canadian ranchers struggle to secure enough feed to get their livestock through the cold months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Canadian ranchers brace for long, lean winter after droughts, soaring feed costs

As of Sept. 30, 72% of the country was considered either ‘abnormally dry’ or in ‘moderate to exceptional drought’

Snow-covered cattle stand in a pasture near Didsbury, Alta., Monday, Oct. 23, 2023. It could be a long, lean winter in cattle country, as drought-ravaged western Canadian ranchers struggle to secure enough feed to get their livestock through the cold months. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A makeshift shelter sits among the landscaping of the Courtenay City Hall parking lot, with the Connect Centre in the background. The Connect Centre is a safe haven for the homeless. (File photo)

Comox Valley facing severe shortage of shelter options as winter looms

Nearly 80 per cent of area’s homeless population would be without a bed in case of an emergency

A makeshift shelter sits among the landscaping of the Courtenay City Hall parking lot, with the Connect Centre in the background. The Connect Centre is a safe haven for the homeless. (File photo)
B.C. wine growers are forecasting significant losses, with crop yields cut by as much as 56 per cent, due to a severe cold snap that gripped the province in December 2022. (Pixabay.com)

B.C. wine grape crop ‘devastated’ by winter cold snap

The cold snap cut this year’s crop by up to 56 per cent; Okanagan and Similkameen most affected

B.C. wine growers are forecasting significant losses, with crop yields cut by as much as 56 per cent, due to a severe cold snap that gripped the province in December 2022. (Pixabay.com)
Vancouver Coastal karate athlete Haumi Tarighatbin (red) faces off against Cancouver Island Central Coast athlete Hudson Ball Saturday, March 25, 2023, during the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games at Kalamalka Secondary School. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

PHOTOS: Athletes dazzle on Day 2 of B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon

Competition in the Games continued Saturday; run through to 12 p.m. Sunday, March 26

Vancouver Coastal karate athlete Haumi Tarighatbin (red) faces off against Cancouver Island Central Coast athlete Hudson Ball Saturday, March 25, 2023, during the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games at Kalamalka Secondary School. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
More than 900 athletes are competing in the B.C. Winter Games from Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Let the games begin: B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon officially underway

The torch is lit and over 900 athletes are ready to compete from Friday to Sunday

More than 900 athletes are competing in the B.C. Winter Games from Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Winter 2022-23 was drier and colder than normal and ranks as the 31st coldest on record, says Environment Canada. (News Bulletin file photo)

Snowy end to February caps off dry and cold meteorological Vancouver Island winter

February’s average temperature was 3 C, a little colder than usual

Winter 2022-23 was drier and colder than normal and ranks as the 31st coldest on record, says Environment Canada. (News Bulletin file photo)
Coquihalla Highway, looking southbound at Zopkos Rest Area, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo/DriveBC)

Winter storm warning issued for B.C.’s Coquihalla and Highway 3

Up to 35 centimetres of snow expected to fall on both routes

Coquihalla Highway, looking southbound at Zopkos Rest Area, Feb. 20, 2022. (Photo/DriveBC)
Vernon ultra athlete Shanda Hill and some of her lake-dipping friends cut a large smile into a huge chunk of ice on Coldstream’s Kalamalka Lake. Of course, the event wasn’t complete without a dip through the eyes. (Screen shot)

VIDEO: Okanagan athlete puts smile on (chunk of) ice

Vernon’s Shanda Hill and friends cut huge happy face into big ice flow on local lake, then go for dip

Vernon ultra athlete Shanda Hill and some of her lake-dipping friends cut a large smile into a huge chunk of ice on Coldstream’s Kalamalka Lake. Of course, the event wasn’t complete without a dip through the eyes. (Screen shot)
Kelowna Fire Department on the ice at Kelowna Golf and Country Club for cold water training on Jan. 5, 2023. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)

Black Press reporter takes the plunge with firefighters for cold water training

Kelowna Fire Department renews skills with annual training

  • Jan 5, 2023
Kelowna Fire Department on the ice at Kelowna Golf and Country Club for cold water training on Jan. 5, 2023. (Brittany Webster/Capital News)
A heavy snowfall Dec. 20 buried cars and anything else left out in the open. (Photo by Carolyn Dykeman)

Twice as much snow and sun during a volatile December on the Island

The month also featured much colder weather than usual

A heavy snowfall Dec. 20 buried cars and anything else left out in the open. (Photo by Carolyn Dykeman)
The Okanagan Connector is closed due to a vehicle incident. (DriveBC)
The Okanagan Connector is closed due to a vehicle incident. (DriveBC)
Highway 1 is closed from Revelstoke to Golden due to avalanche hazards. (DriveBC)

Highway 1 closed from Revelstoke and Golden due to avalanche hazard

The highway will be closed until at least 9 p.m.

Highway 1 is closed from Revelstoke to Golden due to avalanche hazards. (DriveBC)
Four of the six golden retriever puppies rescued from a North Okanagan property on Dec. 21, 2022. (BCSPCA/ photo)

Golden retrievers, including 6 puppies, rescued from North Okanagan property

No heat, clean water or insulation, little food accessible for nine dogs

Four of the six golden retriever puppies rescued from a North Okanagan property on Dec. 21, 2022. (BCSPCA/ photo)