A drier-than-normal April in the Okanagan has meteorologists concerned, as summer inches closer and 20 C temperatures become more frequent.

Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna all failed to reach at least 80 per cent of their normal precipitation marks last month, continuing a several-week-long trend of drier-than-normal conditions.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e in a long-term moisture deficit and really struggling to get past this drought situation that we害羞草研究所檙e currently in, from an agriculture point of view and forest fire point of view,害羞草研究所� said Brian Proctor, a meteorologist at Environment and Climate Change Canada.

Kelowna experienced 11.9 millimetres of precipitation in April. According to records that date back to 1899, monthly averages for the Okanagan害羞草研究所檚 largest city sit at around 40 millimetres.

Although Penticton and Vernon experienced more rain than Kelowna, the communities still experienced just 76 and 59 per cent of their normal precipitation marks, respectively.

害羞草研究所淲e haven害羞草研究所檛 had enough precipitation over the last number of years,害羞草研究所� Proctor said. 害羞草研究所淚t is a concern, but the one good thing we害羞草研究所檙e going to get initially is that it害羞草研究所檚 looking pretty cool temperature-wise for the first part of May.害羞草研究所�

The meteorologist said it害羞草研究所檚 looking like a 害羞草研究所減retty normal summer,害羞草研究所� as B.C. comes out of the El Ni帽o weather phenomenon, but warned that a continued lack of precipitation could pose problems for the region.

害羞草研究所淚n terms of precipitation in the summertime, it tends to be pretty spotty anyway,害羞草研究所� Proctor said. 害羞草研究所淚n general terms, I don害羞草研究所檛 think we害羞草研究所檙e looking at any solution for the ongoing problems.害羞草研究所�

Temperatures across the Okanagan this weekend, from May 3 to 5, are expected to be between 19 and 23 C, according to Environment Canada.

A 40 per cent chance of showers is in the forecast for Kelowna on May 6.