Short, sharp storm topples trees, power lines in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN – An overnight storm with major winds and rain has knocked over trees and power lines up and down the Okanagan Valley.

A cold front that moved through the Okanagan beginning at midnight led to powerful winds, some reaching 110 kilometres an hour, and a sharp drop in temperature overnight, Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist said.

"At midnight, prior to the storm, it was 27 degrees but by 2 a.m. it was 13 degrees," he added. "That shows you how quickly it cooled down. It was down by half in about two hours."

Lundquist said the storm was the more severe summer storms he's seen in quite some time with the Penticton station measuring gusts of 91 kilometres an hour and Kelowna posting a maximum of 111 km/h at a private station near Rotary Beach.

"It was pretty consistent up and down the valley," Lundquist said, of the storm's path.

Environment Canada issued a special warning statement about the storm at around noon Sunday, June 24.

Weather is also being blamed for a bush fire in the Belgo Road area of Kelowna.

The Kelowna Fire Department said arcing power lines caused by high winds were the cause of a sizeable grass fire requiring the response of an engine and two bush trucks. Crews were able to quickly put out the fire.

Platoon captain Dennis Miller said in a press release the storm was also behind many calls for service overnight with majority from downed power lines.

Westside Road has now reopened after being closed for downed trees however both Fortis B.C. and B.C. Hydro are reporting power outages and downed power lines throughout the Okanagan.

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