Summer temperatures coming early for Kamloops, Okanagan

A record-setting heat wave is expected to bring summer vibes early this year in Kamloops and the Okanagan. 

Over the weekend and into next week the daily high temperatures are expected to climb up to 28 Celsius in Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton with Kamloops anticipating a high of 31 C on Monday, May 4. 

Environment Canada meteorologist Ken Dosanjh said this kind of heat early in the year could set new daily high temperature records. 

“There is potential that, you know, the peak heat could break some daytime records, maybe Sunday or Monday,” he said. “Temperatures will potentially be peaking near the 30-degree mark. And so that typically stands about 8 to 12 degrees above normal.”

Dosanjh said this kind of heat is concerning because of the dry and warm winter, especially in the Okanagan. 

Penticton has only seen 18 millimetres of precipitation in 2026 so far, and it normally gets 72 mm. Kelowna has seen 40 mm out of a normal 77 mm, and Vernon has seen 68 mm or precipitation out of a normal 94 mm. 

As of April 1, the Okanagan had 58 per cent of its normal snowpack and some monitoring stations, like Brenda Mines and Silver Star Mountain are around record-low snowpacks. 

“Definitely below normal, and that just increases the drought aspect,” Dosanjh said. “This prolonged above normal temperatures will play a part into the remainder of May, where we’ll start to continue to elevate that drought concern as well as increased wildfire risk and dry landscapes at this point.”

It’s going to feel like summer, but Dosanjh said people shouldn’t get too carried away and remember to be safe.

“We want to be mindful to ease into those outdoor activities and continue to stay hydrated, keep summer mode. So keep yourself shaded and don’t underestimate the temperatures,” he said.

“Even though the air is going to be warm, the water is going to be cold. So when you get into cold water, that can also trigger that cold shock that you may feel, the sudden gasping, the rapid breathing.”