(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
August 14, 2015 - 8:27 AM
OKANAGAN - After a record day in the Okanagan temperatures are set to cool down and we can expect to see heavy rain and possibly severe thunderstorms over the next couple of days.
Yesterday, Aug. 13, a new high temperature record was set in Kelowna, 37.8 Celsius, with Vernon, at 36.5 C, and Penticton, at 35.8 C, just shy of records. Today, Aug. 14, Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for several areas, including the Okanagan, Nicola and Similkameen regions.
The weather office is calling for thunderstorms over the region Friday and Saturday, along with up to 25 millimetres of rain overnight tonight, and says conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms. These storms, moving up from Washington state, could bring strong wind, large hail and heavy rain.
With drought conditions, meteorologists also warn heavy rain will not be able to properly be absorbed, which could lead to flash flooding. In general 20 to 30 mm of rain is expected through the Okanagan, Thompson and Shuswap regions, with up to 40 mm locally under thunderstorms. Rain at rates of more than 15 mm per hour could fall.
Highs of 28 C are expected throughout the Okanagan today, along with increasing cloudiness and a chance of showers and risk of a thunderstorm during the day. Overnight rain will fall heavily, with up to 25 mm expected just overnight, and then a risk of showers and thunderstorms, along with a high of just 21 C, on Saturday.
The sun is expected to come out on Sunday and temperatures will hit seasonal normals of 26 C before cooling off again Monday.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015