Strong winds expected before sunshine on the weekend in the Okanagan

Okanagan residents should prepare for a blustery end to the work week, but the weekend weather is expected to bring more pleasant fall conditions to the valley.

Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan says a low pressure system moving across the province later today, Oct. 24, will bring strong gusty winds to the Okanagan that could reach 80 km/h in some areas.

The winds are expected to increase overnight, before peaking around mid-morning tomorrow.

Castellan says skies should clear in time for the weekend with a high pressure system building into next week.

Today in the Okanagan you can expect a mix of sun and cloud with the wind becoming south at 20 km/h this afternoon. The daytime high temperature should reach 15 Celsius in Vernon and Kelowna, and 14 C in Pentiction, along with an overnight low of 6 C in Vernon and Kelowna, and 7 C in Penticton.

Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement regarding the possibility of strong winds tonight and tomorrow.

Clouds are expected tonight along with southerly winds from 30 km/h gusting to 50 as that Pacific frontal system moves across the region.

Showers are expected tomorrow in the Okanagan, beginning in the morning and ending in the late afternoon. Strong southerly winds of 40 km/h gusting to 60 will shift to the northwest at 50 gusting to 70 around noon.

Tomorrow’s high is expected to reach 15 C in Vernon and Kelowna, and 13 C in Penticton with a low of 4 C overnight in all three cities under cloudy skies.

Saturday should see a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 9 C and a low of -3 C.

There is more sun in the forecast for Sunday and Monday with highs of 7 C and lows of -3 C both days.

A mix of sun and cloud is expected Tuesday and Wednesday with a high of 9 C both days.

Normal temperatures this time of year in the Okanagan are highs of 9 C and lows of 1 C.

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