(PARKER CROOK / iNFOnews.ca)

After scorching heat since mid-July, it's expected to be much cooler and damper in Kamloops and the Okanagan today.

But, there is the risk of thunderstorms today, Aug. 4, throughout the region and an air quality statement has been issued for parts of the region.

A few showers are forecast by Environment Canada for Kamloops today with a high of only 18 Celsius.

There’s a 30% chance of showers tomorrow with a high of 25 C forecast.

For the Okanagan, there’s a 70% chance of showers in Vernon today but only 30% in the Central and South Okanagan.

Vernon’s high temperature is forecast to be only 17 C while Kelowna should get to 20 C and Penticton to 23 C.

It’s expected to clear tomorrow with sunshine and higher temperatures returning through the weekend.

Kamloops has a high of 33 C forecast by Sunday and 37 C on Tuesday.

The Okanagan should reach 30 C on Sunday and 33 C on Tuesday.

READ MORE: Campfires banned in Kamloops Fire Centre as of noon today

The special air quality statement warns of wildfire smoke in the South Thompson and South Okanagan, along with the Fraser Canyon and into the Kootenays.

Kelowna and Vernon are not mentioned in the statement.

Thundershowers pose the risk of more wildfires starting as the fire danger rating has climbed to extreme in the South Okanagan and remains high throughout most of the Kamloops fire district.

There are currently four wildfires of note in the district, including the Keremeos Creek fire near Apex Mountain ski resort.

It was estimated at 4,250 hectares as of 5:32 p.m. yesterday. That makes it larger than the Nohomin Creek fire near Lytton which was at 3,700 ha last evening.

The Maria Creek fire near Pavilion was estimated at just over 1,000 ha while the Watching Creek fire burning 16 km northwest of Kamloops was 195 ha.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Rob Munro or call 250-808-0143 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2022