Storm’s a comin’ to Kamloops and the Okanagan

Brace for thunderstorms in Kamloops and the Okanagan this afternoon.

There are currently no public weather alerts in B.C. but that is expected to change within hours, according to Lisa Erven, meteorologist with Environment Canada. 

“Today (July 2) there’s a risk of thunderstorms over Kamloops and Okanagan,” she said. “We may see local heavy downpours producing up to 10 millimetres of precipitation in an hour, as well as strong wind gusts.”

There is a 30% to 40% chance of thunderstorms in the region, Erven said.

Tomorrow thunderstorms will be even more widespread, she said.

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Storms are expected to start in the morning of July 3 from the south, so Osoyoos will be the first to experience thunder, lightning and showers. The same system will reach Kamloops by the afternoon.

Everyone in Kamloops or the Okanagan can expect heavy downpour and frequent lightening at some point tomorrow, as well as five to 10 mm of rain and as much as 20 mm in some locations.

With so many people in the region for long weekend celebrations, Erven said there is an added vulnerability this weekend.

She reminds the public to keep a watch out for dark skies and when thunder roars to go indoors.

– This story was corrected at 2:33 p.m. to change cm, which is the incorrect measurement, to mm. 

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