Thunderstorms forecast for the Okanagan, Shuswap; sunnier days ahead

KELOWNA – Sunshine is coming, but we’ve got to go through thundershowers first in the Okanagan and Shuswap.

Today, May 4, will be a fairly nice day in the Okanagan, according to Environment Canada, with mainly sunny skies and a high of 27, but conditions will exist tonight for the thundershowers.

A special weather statement has been issued for the Okanagan and Shuswap as a Pacific cold approaches the coast this evening. Meteorologists says conditions will be favourable for the development of thunderstorms over the Southwest Interior, including the Okanagan and Shuswap.

The statement advises people to be prepared for thunderstorms with lightning, heavy downpours, strong wind gusts and hail. The heavy rain, combined with the spring melt, will lead to rising river levels and may increase the risk of flooding. Fast flowing water and adjacent riverbanks will be potentially unsafe.

On Friday, the forecast calls for showers with thunderstorms, with between 15 to 25 millimetres of rain expected, and a high of 18 Celsius. The showers and thunderstorms continue overnight with a low down to 8 C.

Saturday the stormy weather should be passed the Okanagan, but there’ll still be clouds and a high of only 16 C with a 30 per cent chance of evening showers. Overnight the clouds will start disappearing and we’ll hit a low of 4 C.

Things change for Sunday with a high of 20 C and sunny skies. Overnight it’ll be clear again, with a low of 5 C.

Next week is looking nice with a mix of sun and clouds an highs in the mid-20s predicted so far.

Normally for this time of year the Okanagan has highs of 18 C and lows of 6 C.

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