Thunderstorms fire up across the Okanagan

KELOWNA – Kelowna was hit by a strong thunderstorm, one of many moving through the Thompson-Okanagan region this afternoon bringing heavy rain, hail and lightning and perhaps resulting in a small lightning-caused fire.

The fire was reported at about 3:30 p.m. in the area of Shaleridge place. A tree was apparently hit and ignited. At about 4:15 a grass fire was reported in the area of Knox Mountain Park.

Power lines are reported down on Paulette Road, Huckleberry Road and Dion Road. There was also a report of a tree falling on a house on Dunvegan Court.

Vernon was hammered by heavy rain and lightning at about the time the storm broke in Kelowna and there was some flash flooding, while Penticton skies dropped hail at about 3 p.m.

A storm that passed through Kamloops earlier this afternoon caused flash flooding and stranded or submerged many vehicles in prone areas.

A thunderstorm alert that preceded the wild weather has ended for the Okanagan, though others may be issued as the storms continue through the rest of the day and into the evening.

%%Video1%%

To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

—This story was edited July 23 at 5:15 p.m. to add a video of the storm in Vernon.