iN PHOTOS: Lightning, fire and sunsets in the Okanagan

Smoke from a fire near West Bench can be seen from Three Mile Beach in Penticton.

(SHELBY THEVENOT / iNFOnews.ca)

July 18, 2018 - 11:32 AM

Last night's thunder and lightning show won't soon be forgotten but hopefully it's because we got lucky, not for the few hours of concern and worry as we all tried to figure out where lightning strikes hit.

Environment Canada seemed to know the storm was going to hit but didn't issue any weather warnings or statements in advance of the light show. Tuesday, July 17, 2018 was also the hottest day of the year so far and the storm seemed to come out of nowhere igniting fires, yes, but also creating an incredible sunset and even a double rainbow if you happened to catch it.

This morning, it appears everyone's home is safe, even as B.C. Wildfire air and ground crews and municipal firefighters continue looking for new fires; so far up to 20 new fires were sparked overnight.

We'll keep an eye on the situation all day. But for now, rest easy and have a look at some of the incredible images created last night.

Rainbow over Vernon last night.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Rachael Zubick

Lightning touching down in West Kelowna yesterday evening.
A post shared by James Jansen (@jamesajansen) on Jul 18, 2018 at 7:54am PDT

And this one is in my town! Hoping they get it under control right now. #eff #okanagan #wildfire
A post shared by Godless Mom (@godless_mom) on Jul 17, 2018 at 8:01pm PDT

Just a few shots of the crazy colors in the #sky last night after the #storm. ???? . . . . . #digitalnomadlife #thunder #lightening #afterthestorm #rainbow #remotelifestyle #skyline #pinkskies #orangeskies #landscape #clouds #digitalnomad #okanagan #okanaganvalley #okanaganlife
A post shared by @ feistyditta on Jul 18, 2018 at 10:20am PDT

Crazy, beautiful sunset last night #tourismvernon #tourismbc #vernontourism #bcdestination #bcisbeautiful #okanaganlifestyle #okanaganlife #okanaganlake #okanagan #stormclouds #storm #thatsprettyvernon
A post shared by Devon Burles Taylor (@devotay6) on Jul 18, 2018 at 9:55am PDT

Lightning touching down in West Kelowna yesterday evening.
A post shared by James Jansen (@jamesajansen) on Jul 18, 2018 at 7:54am PDT

The storm yesterday brought on many new wildfires in the Okanagan.#BritishColumbia #Canada #penticton #Bc #sky #Okanagan #Sunset #evening #ig_sunset #skylove #raw_canada #forestfire #sky_captures #sunsets #skylovers #southokanagan #skyvibes #sunsetlovers #viewbc #adventure #best_skyshots #explorebc #Pentictonbc #pentictonnow #sunset_hub #landscapes #skylove #sunsethunter #okanaganlifestyle #okanaganvalley
A post shared by Emelia Niemi (@emelia.niemi) on Jul 18, 2018 at 9:55am PDT

After the storm. #rainbows #stormclouds #dusk #okanagan
A post shared by Annie (@annecee) on Jul 18, 2018 at 9:42am PDT

After the storm we had on the 17th. If anyone knows this couple, put them in touch with me and I'll get them the full sized version. I would've stopped to chat but I was on my way up Knox Mtn to get some more tasty shots! . . . . . #kelownaviews #bcisbeautiful #beautifulbc #afterthestorm #downtownkelowna #kelownaliving #kelownafornia #okanagan #okanaganlake
A post shared by Sven Stenberg (@svenstenbergmaker) on Jul 18, 2018 at 9:34am PDT

The calm after the storm... #kelowna #kelownabc #kelownanow #kelownaviews #kelownalife #okanaganlake #okanagan #okanaganlife #explorekelowna #explorebc #explorecanada #paradisecanada #exploretocreate #sunset_vision #sunset_madness #sunsets_oftheworld #sunset_lovers #landscape_hunter #landscapestyles #landscapelover #landscape_capture #curiouskelowna #imagesofcanada #theworldshotz #global_creatives #nikoncanada #nikond750 #adventureisoutthere #longexpo_addiction #longexposure_shots
A post shared by Kyle Sanguin (@kylesanguin) on Jul 18, 2018 at 9:25am PDT

Last nights storm passing through. ? ? #kelowna #okanagan #storm #summer #hotaf #kelownanow #myview #cloudporn #britishcolumbia #latergram #summerstorm
A post shared by Ashley Davey (@ashleydavey) on Jul 18, 2018 at 8:15am PDT

Speechless ?????? ___________________ #bcwildfire #lightningstruck #waterbomber #penticton #unreal #speechless #okfalls #lake #beautiful #sunset #peaceful #sunsets #journey #adventure #rockeymountains #kelowna #okanagan __________________ #okanaganviews#travelbc#travelalberta#hellobc#okanaganvalley#photography#capture#camping#beers#roadtrip#freedom
A post shared by JLau (@lauzonjordan) on Jul 18, 2018 at 7:28am PDT

Embrace the storm... there’s always sunshine at the end ?? @kathryn.ramsay.esthetics #stormchasers #storm #stormwatching #nature #sunset #happiness #embraceit #love #woodlake #okanagan #kelowna
A post shared by kurdy (@kirstineliason) on Jul 18, 2018 at 12:00am PDT

Wicked lightning show tonight! . . . . . . . #okanaganexplorers #canada?? #explorebc #explorecanada #canada???? #storm #stormchaser #kelowna #kelownanow #kelownaviews #kelownaliving #kelownafornia #okanagan #okanaganlake #okanaganvalley #okanaganfeature #dailyviewbc #dailyviewcanada #dailyviewkelowna #ylw #longexposure_shots #longexpo_addiction #ilovebc #kelownaphotographer #okanaganphotographer #bcisbeautiful #supernaturalbritishcolumbia #canada
A post shared by Landon James (@landos.photos) on Jul 17, 2018 at 11:52pm PDT

It was a double rainbow night #rainbows#storm#clouds#lovenature#skies#rain#concert#curiouskelowna#kelowna#okanagan#instagood
A post shared by elleguyot (@elleguyot) on Jul 17, 2018 at 11:23pm PDT

Westside strikes from perch top view..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #bcisbeautiful #beautifulbc #bc #exploreokanagan #okanagan #canadaviews #kelownaviews #openexposure #kelownabc #kelownanow #explore #britishcolumbia #discoverbc #explorebc #hellobc @castanetmedia #ilovebc #lightning #canada #okanagan #explorekelowna #canadaviews #belatravels #ig_photooftheday #pixeo #perchhere #dreamland_arts_of_nature #curiouskelowna #explorekelowna #photonature_rgb
A post shared by Scott (@daydream_a_tree) on Jul 17, 2018 at 9:58pm PDT

Dig that funky transition in the sky tonight! . . . . . . . . . . . . #kelownaview #kelowna #ylw #downtownkelowna #kelownanow #hellokelowna #kelownaliving #okanaganlife #okanaganliving #okanagan #explorekelowna #okanaganvalley #exploreokanagan #explorebc #explorecanada #thecanadiancollective #trapping_tones #cangeo #natgeocanada #ig_bestpicworldtravel #scoopybaker #bcphotographer #kelownaviews #imagesofcanada #imagesofbc #7d #canoncanada #imagesnipers
A post shared by The Dunbar Studio (@the_dunbar_studio) on Jul 17, 2018 at 9:40pm PDT

The after affects of summer lightning
A post shared by Russell Brown (@russellbrownphotography) on Jul 17, 2018 at 9:23pm PDT

And so it begins...was driving from West K back to Pen after the storm and noticed so many fires had sprung up...wishing for the saftey of everyone involved, and hoping that it doesn't get out of hand this summer ??
A post shared by Steph (@stephleah22) on Jul 17, 2018 at 9:22pm PDT