Brace for strong winds in the Okanagan, Kamloops today

Kamloops and Okanagan residents should prepare themselves for some windy conditions later today.

Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist says the South Okanagan will likely bear the brunt of an approaching Pacific system that is expected to produce winds up to 80 km/h in Penticton this afternoon, Jan. 5, and evening.

The winds will be from the south at 30 km/h gusting to 50 this afternoon in Kelowna and Vernon, while Penticton could see wind gusts up to 80 km/h this afternoon. Kamloops is in for winds gusting from 40 to 60 km/h beginning late this morning.

READ MORE: Wind, rain, snowfall warnings posted as storm hammers most of coastal B.C.

“Watch for wind warnings in the South Okanagan. Lytton could also see a wind warning issued. South winds are pretty normal for Penticton, but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some local impacts with hydro outages and downed trees this afternoon,” Lundquist says.

The winds should begin to die down around midnight.

He doesn’t think there will be a lot of precipitation associated with the system, which is bringing some warm temperatures to Kamloops and the Okanagan.

Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon and Kamloops could all see highs of 6 Celsius tomorrow, Jan. 6, with parts of the Thompson region possibly approaching 10 C.

Normal daytime high temperatures for Kamloops and the Okanagan are around -2 C for early January.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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