A couple dip in the Thompson River in Kamloops’ Pioneer Park on Monday, July 16, 2018.

(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

More than a dozen fires have been sparked across the Okanagan after a lightning storm passed through the area yesterday evening, and it looks like hot temperatures are going to continue to add to dry conditions.

A heat warning has been ended in the Okanagan, but it's been continued for the South Thompson including Kamloops.

By noon today, July 18, it was already 30 Celsius in Kamloops with a high of 35 C predicted, but the current hot spot in B.C. is Osoyoos with a temperature of just over 31 C.

Penticton is nearly at that temperature, but Kelowna is slightly cooler with a temperature of 28 C but a high of 32 C forecast. Vernon temperatures are right in the middle with a current temperature of 29 C and a forecast high of 32 C.

Penticton's high today is forecast at 32 C.

The heat warning for the South Thompson states daytime high temperatures are expected to reach up to 35 C this afternoon, July 18. But tomorrow, things across the Southern Interior are expected to cool off into the high 20s to low 30s.

"These high temperatures are not out of the ordinary for this time of year, however, please be aware of the health risks associated with hot weather," Environment Canada states in the warning.

People are cautioned to watch for effects of heat illness which include swelling, rash, cramps, fainting, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and the worsening of some health conditions.

According to the B.C. Wildfire Service's online interactive map, the majority of yesterday's fires in the Okanagan are suspected to be caused by lightning. There are 20 new fires in the Okanagan as a result of the storm cell that tracked through the valley last night and some of them can be seen smouldering on the valley slopes today.

No campfire ban is in place yet for the Kamloops Fire Centre, but one was put in place this week for the Coastal Fire Centre. If hot, dry conditions keep up, a campfire ban could go in place in the near future.

There is a chance of showers for the South Thompson beginning tomorrow, and temperatures are expected to drop off beginning Friday into this weekend.

There is no precipitation forecast in the Okanagan for the next seven days, other than the chance of evening thunderstorms which may not come with rain. Temperatures are also expected to fall on Friday.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2018