South Okanagan communities set rainfall records

PENTICTON – Area residents and highway crews continue mopping up following record setting rain in the South Okanagan yesterday.

Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa West says rainfall records yesterday, March 22, were broken in Osoyoos, Penticton and Summerland, as the South Okanagan bore the brunt of yesterday’s weather.

Osoyoos received 18.3 mm of rain, breaking the previous high of 10.2 mm set in 1988. Penticton received 29.6 mm of rain, breaking the previous high of 16.3 mm set in 1972, while Summerland topped the list at 33.8 mm, breaking a previous high of 14.4 mm, set in 1995.

West says a very unstable air mass that brought showers yesterday morning was followed by a very strong cold front that created a high degree of convective activity, with some intense cells of rain centred in the Penticton and Summerland area.

The rainfall wasn’t as significant in other parts of the valley, with Kelowna receiving 13 mm, Vernon 6.7 mm and Kamloops recording 3.8 mm of rain.

It also fell faster in the south, as rain fell at a rate of 8 to 10 mm per hour in Penticton and Summerland, while Vernon and Kelowna recorded rates of 2 to 6 mm per hour.

West says a cold, unstable air mass will hang around for the weekend, with showers or flurries possible in the Okanagan this afternoon.

Another system approaching the area from Washington State could produce rain tomorrow morning, especially in the South Okanagan.

West says the outlook for the next week is for “active” weather, with more rain showers likely.

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