You’re driving up the Coquihalla, the engine is humming, and the pine trees are blurring past. Then, suddenly, the mountains peel back. The landscape doesn't just change; it transforms. You’ve hit the Thompson Valley, and it looks more like a scene from a spaghetti western than the lush, rainy postcard most people imagine when they think of Canada. Honestly, the weather in Kamloops British Columbia is a bit of a freak of nature. It’s dry. Really dry. We’re talking sagebrush, prickly pear cacti, and rattlesnakes dry.
Most travelers expect the damp, mossy chill of Vancouver or the deep, endless snowdrifts of the Rockies. Kamloops says "no thanks" to both. Sitting in a rain shadow leeward of the Coast Mountains, this city operates on its own set of rules. It’s a semi-arid climate that feels like a slice of the American High Desert accidentally got misplaced in the Canadian Interior.
Why it’s actually a desert (mostly)
Technically, meteorologists call it "semi-arid," but if you're walking through Kenna Cartwright Park in mid-July, your skin will tell you it's a desert. The city sees about 278 mm of total precipitation a year. To put that in perspective, Vancouver gets that much in a particularly bad November.
Because of this lack of moisture, the heat in the summer is a different beast. It’s a "dry heat," which people love to joke about until it’s $38^{\circ}C$ and the sun feels like a physical weight on your shoulders. On July 30, 2025, the airport recorded a high of $39.4^{\circ}C$. That’s not unusual. The low humidity—sometimes dropping below 10% in the afternoons—means you don't get that sticky, swampy feeling, but you do need to carry water like your life depends on it. Because it kinda does.
The crazy part? The nights.
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Since there's no moisture in the air to trap the heat, the temperature plummeted over 15 degrees once the sun dipped behind the hills last August. You can go from sweating in a tank top at 4:00 PM to reaching for a hoodie by 9:00 PM. It’s a massive diurnal swing that catches a lot of tourists off guard.
The winter reality check
Winter in the valley is surprisingly mild compared to the rest of the province. While the North Okanagan or the Cariboo might be shoveling feet of snow, Kamloops often gets away with a light dusting. In January 2026, we’ve seen daily highs hovering around $2^{\circ}C$ or $3^{\circ}C$.
But don't get comfortable.
Every so often, the "Arctic Outflow" decides to pay a visit. This is when cold air from the north spills over the mountains and gets trapped in the valley. When that happens, the mercury can scream down to $-20^{\circ}C$. It doesn't last long—usually just a week or two—but it’s a sharp reminder that you’re still in Canada.
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- Valley Cloud (Inversions): This is the local winter phenomenon nobody mentions in the brochures. Sometimes, warm air sits on top of cold air in the valley, trapping a thick layer of grey fog. You can be in the gloom downtown while people up at Sun Peaks Resort are skiing under a bright blue sky.
- The Wind: Kamloops is where the North and South Thompson rivers meet, and that valley geography creates a wind tunnel effect. A $5^{\circ}C$ day can feel like $-5^{\circ}C$ real quick if the wind is whipping off the water.
- Snow Totals: We usually see about 63 cm of snow for the whole year. For context, some ski hills get that in a single weekend.
Spring and Fall: The blink-and-you-miss-it seasons
If you want the "sweet spot" for the weather in Kamloops British Columbia, you have to time it perfectly. Spring usually shows up in March. The hills turn a vibrant, electric green for about three weeks before the sun bakes them back to brown.
Fall is arguably the best time to be here. September 2025 saw temperatures in the low 30s, but by October, it settled into a crisp, golden $15^{\circ}C$. It’s perfect for hiking because the rattlesnakes are starting to head for their dens and the air is finally clear of the summer haze.
The Elephant in the Room: Wildfire Season
We have to talk about the smoke. It’s the one part of Kamloops weather that has become unpredictable and, frankly, a bit stressful. Because the Thompson-Nicola region is so dry, it’s a tinderbox.
In recent years, "Wildfire Season" has stretched from late June all the way into September. Even if there isn't a fire right next to the city, the valley geography acts like a bowl, collecting smoke from fires as far away as northern BC or even Washington State.
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- Air Quality: On bad days, the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) can hit 10+.
- Visibility: You might lose the view of Mount Peter and Mount Paul entirely behind a wall of orange haze.
- Planning: If you’re planning a trip in August, you need a backup plan for indoor activities. The BC Wildfire Service now uses high-tech predictive modeling, but nature still does what it wants.
Dealing with the elements
If you're moving here or just passing through, you need to layer. Forget the heavy parkas unless it's mid-January. A good windbreaker and a breathable base layer will get you through 80% of the year.
In the summer, the sun is intense. Because Kamloops sits at a relatively high latitude but has very clear skies, the UV index is frequently in the "very high" category. Sunscreen isn't optional here. Neither is a hat.
Basically, the weather here is a series of extremes held together by long stretches of brown-grass sunshine. It’s a place where you can golf in the morning and be at a world-class ski resort in 45 minutes. It’s weird, it’s dry, and it’s nothing like the rest of BC. And honestly? That’s why people love it.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Environment Canada "Kamloops Airport" station for the most accurate valley-floor readings before you pack.
- If visiting in winter, check the Sun Peaks webcam; the valley might be foggy, but the mountain is often sunny due to temperature inversions.
- Download the AQHI Canada app during summer months to monitor smoke levels in real-time before heading out for a hike.
- If you're driving the Coquihalla (Highway 5) in winter, carry chains or ensure you have winter tires (M+S at minimum, but mountain snowflake is better) as the weather at the summit is often 10 degrees colder than in the city.