Rain, rain won’t go away until Monday

OKANAGAN – Rain and thunderstorms are the order of the day as a low pressure system moves through the Southern Interior Sunday.

Up to 25 mm of rain are expected so Environment Canada has issued a Special Weather Statement covering the Central and North Okanagan, including Kelowna and Vernon.

A moist, unstable air mass south of the upper trough is spreading rain and isolated thunderstorms over the region.

Total rainfall amounts of 15 to 25 mm are forecast for the Okanagan through the day and overnight. The heaviest rain will be associated with the thunderstorms.

Flooding is a concern as the rain mixes with the spring runoff.

The South Okanagan isn’t part of the Special Weather Statement. Expect showers with a chance of thundershowers on Sunday, but no significant total rainfall amounts.

On Monday, the sky will begin to clear. The forecast is calling for a mix of sun and cloud and a high of 16 C. No mention of precipitation.

With rain in the valleys at this time of year you know that means snow at the higher elevations.

Environment Canada is warning of 15 to 20 cm of wet snow near the summit of the Okanagan Connector between Kelowna and Merritt on Sunday. The snow will also be an issue on the Paulson Summit and the Kootenay Pass.

The snow will continue through Sunday night and into Monday with a snow level of around 1,600 m.

For the latest forecasts from Environment Canada you can go to their website.

Check out Drive B.C. for the latest road conditions before heading out.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infotelnews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.