Smoky conditions in Kamloops expected to improve this week

KAMLOOPS – Oppressively smoky skies put a damper on summer in Kamloops over the weekend.

Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Ervine says the heavy smoke concentrations in the city Saturday, Aug. 20, inhibited daytime surface heating resulting in a high of only 20.3 Celsius against a forecast high of 26 C.

Smoky conditions eased somewhat on Sunday resulting in a high of 26.4 C, which was pretty close to the forecast high of 27.

“Smoke can play a big role in temperature forecasting. Right now, we can only express smoke in days one and two of the forecast," Ervine says. "We are working to change that as it’s not really descriptive of what’s actually expected to occur.  We’ve had numerous complaints."

A slight change in the weather pattern has seen the wind shift from a northerly direction to a northeasterly flow, which is expected to improve air quality somewhat over the next three days, she says. 

Temperatures are expected to reach 27 C today and 28 C tomorrow, reaching 31 C by Wednesday before falling off to the low 20s on Thursday as a cold front begins making its way into the Interior.

Ervine says along with the cooler temperatures, the cold front will also bring the possibility of rain and thundershowers to the city on Thursday.

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