Environment Canada says a significant 鈥渁rctic blast鈥� will sweep through the Okanagan and Shuswap as early as Wednesday evening, Jan. 10.

Daytime tempertures will plummet to -10 to -17 C and overnight lows are expected to flirt with marks of around -20 C, from Jan. 11 to 15, as a result.

鈥淚t鈥檚 really into Thursday (Jan. 11) where we鈥檒l see those temperatures significantly below normal,鈥� Environment Canada meteorologist Alyssa Charbonneau said, adding that the Okanagan will experience daytime highs of between -12 C to -15 C through the weekend. 鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely going to feel extremely cold to people, especially because we haven鈥檛 seen anything like it this season.鈥�

Overnight temperatures in 琉璃神社, Vernon, Penticton and Salmon Arm are expected to hit lows of -20 on Thursday, Jan. 11. That鈥檚 around 12 degrees colder than it usually is at this time of year, Charbonneau said.

This week鈥檚 cold snap comes after a warmer-than-normal start to winter. Cities in the region, , have felt the impact of the El Ni帽o weather phenomenon since June, resulting in a notably mild and dry December.

鈥淲hat we鈥檒l see here with the cold isn鈥檛 unusual for this time of year,鈥� the meteorologist added. 鈥淚 think what was unusual was just how warm December really was.鈥�

Below-seasonal temperatures are on their way, but it appears the Okanagan will actually avoid the worst of what鈥檚 to come in some parts of B.C.

On Tuesday, Environment Canada issued a forecast note stating parts of the province could welcome overnight temperatures of between -30 C and -40. Charbonneau says those frigid marks are most likely reserved for across the Cariboo region and towards Prince George.

鈥淔or the Okanagan, it鈥檚 not looking quite that cold, however, we haven鈥檛 seen anything close to this so it鈥檚 going to be a big change.鈥�

Unlike the , cold temperatures in the region this week are not expected to be record-breaking for this time of year.

琉璃神社, for instance, recorded a temperature of -25.6 C on Jan. 12, 1950. That still stands as the city鈥檚 daily minimum for that day, the meteorologist said.

鈥淎t this point, the lows we鈥檙e going to see aren鈥檛 in record-breaking territory yet, but you can鈥檛 rule it out until we get through this week,鈥� Charbonneau added.

Beyond Monday, Jan. 15, Environment Canada says temperatures will begin to 鈥渕oderate鈥� and return closer to seasonal.

鈥淚t doesn鈥檛 look like this extreme cold is going to last through next week,鈥� Charbonneau said. 鈥淪till, we鈥檙e in for four days of very cold weather.鈥�

Snowfall, meanwhile, remains in the forecast for 琉璃神社 and Vernon on Tuesday, Jan. 9. Both cities could see another 2 to 4 centimetres fall through the night.

A 30 to 60 per cent chance of flurries remains penned for Penticton through Friday, Jan. 12.