A composite photo of a lightning in Osoyoos during the early hours of May 3. More of Greg Reely's work can be found on his Facebook page – facebook.com/gregreelyphotography.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Greg Reely Photography
May 05, 2023 - 11:00 AM
Heavy rain in the forecast today and tonight for the Okanagan and Boundary regions has prompted weather advisories from Environment Canada.
The rain, at times heavy, is expected to develop today, May 5, in the Okanagan, including Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton, as the first of several weather systems arrives in the southern Interior, according to a special weather statement issued this morning.
The showers are forecast to intensify this afternoon with thunderstorms.
The weather office says the heavy rain is likely to create new flooding, make the existing flooding worse along with raising the risk of mudslides as the rain combines with the melting of the mid- to high-elevation snowpack.
READ MORE: B.C. flooding, mudslides prompt evacuation orders, highway closures in the Interior
"Confidence remains low on spatial extent and intensity as the high precipitation amounts will depend on the embedded thunderstorms," the weather statement says. "Nevertheless, the threat for sudden heavy downpours and flash flooding on top of the volatile spring snowmelt conditions remains."
Rainfall warnings may be issued as the certainty grows, Environment Canada says.
Along with the special weather statement, forecasters have issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Okanagan and Boundary regions.
"Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms that may be capable of producing strong wind gusts and heavy rain," the watch says. "Heavy downpours are likely to cause flash floods and water pooling on roads."
For the latest on the weather advisories, go to Environment Canada's weather information page here.
For updates on flooding, go the BC River Forecast Centre's web page here.
DriveBC will have the latest on impacts to roads and highways in the province here.
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