Clouds and showers expected this weekend in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN – An upper low moving into the Okanagan on Saturday is expected to bring big relief to firefighting efforts in the South Okanagan.

Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist says his biggest concerns are for winds and dry lightning during the initial stages of the cool down, but the changing weather is “mostly good news.”

"It’s going to be cooler and more humid, but where most of the precipitation falls, it’s random and tough to predict,” he says. The downside is the change is happening on the weekend.

Lundquist says there is a slight chance some areas could see a thunderstorm today, Aug. 8, or tomorrow, but the real transition day is Saturday. By Sunday, daytime high temperatures are expected to be as much as 20 degrees cooler than they are today.

In the Okanagan today it should be sunny with winds becoming northwest this afternoon at 20 km/h, becoming light this evening. The high should reach 35 Celsius today with an overnight low of 16 C.

Environment Canada has issued an air quality statement for the South Okanagan and a special weather statement for hot weather today.

Sunny skies tomorrow morning are expected to give way to a mix of sun and cloud near noon. There is a risk of a thunderstorm in the afternoon with winds becoming northwest at 20 km/h, and a high of 33 C, along with a low of 18 C.

The weekend looks wet, with showers expected Saturday and overnight into Sunday. Temperatures are expected to cool considerably with a high of 25 C on Saturday, dropping to 16 C on Sunday, with overnight lows of 15 C and 13 C respectively.

On Monday, some sun returns with a mix of sun and cloud forecast, along with a 40 per cent chance of showers and a high of 22 C. Monday night should see clouds lingering with a 30 per cent chance of showers and a low of 14 C.

A mix of sun and cloud is forecast for Tuesday with a high of 24 C and an overnight low of 14 C.

Vernon, Kelowna and Penticton normally experience a high of 27 C and a low of 12 C this time of year.

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