Mother Nature has not been kind to the Okanagan-Similkameen this week and unfortunately there is little reprieve in sight.

While temperatures in the region have dropped significantly today, there are heavy winds still in the forecast and dry and hot conditions expected all next week.

A thunderstorm with promised rain showers is unlikely to hit south of Vernon and therefore will do little to calm the flames.

And Environment Canada does not predict any real rainfall activity for the rest of July.

Meteorologist Matt MacDonald says poor weather conditions made battling this week害羞草研究所檚 wildfires even harder on firefighters.

害羞草研究所淎 dry-cold front swept through the Southern Interior Tuesday night that was very active. We had upwards of 10,000 lightning strikes across the province and 2-3,000 over the Okanagan area,害羞草研究所� he says.

害羞草研究所淯nfortunately that lightning was what we call dry lightning, there was no rain or very little. Only a drop in a very dry bucket.害羞草研究所�

The lightning sparked multiple fires in the region that were made worse by weather conditions on Wednesday and Thursday.

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Related: Okanagan Mountain Park wildfire 害羞草研究所渟table害羞草研究所� this morning

Related: Okanagan Wildfires: The latest on wildfires and evacuations

害羞草研究所淵esterday we had very gusty and variable winds. In the Okanagan it started off with southerly winds and then midday they totally switched and reversed around to northerly winds,害羞草研究所� says MacDonald.

害羞草研究所淚 can only image they would have had stationed firefighters on one flank and then as the winds shifted they are chasing their tails. It was a challenging day yesterday.害羞草研究所�

The weather also left residents in the Okanagan waking up to very smoky skies Thursday. The one benefit of yesterday害羞草研究所檚 heavy winds is that air quality has improved greatly.

害羞草研究所淭he winds helped mix out the smoke, but unfortunately aggravated the wildfires.害羞草研究所�

As of Friday morning, the weather is cooler but still windy.

害羞草研究所淭he temperatures dropped quite a bit. We are only headed for a high of about 24 C, whereas yesterday we were in to the thirties. A bit of help in that regard, but unfortunately a pretty breezy day again,害羞草研究所� says MacDonald.

害羞草研究所淲inds at the airport are already westerly at 30, gusting to 40 km/h. Those winds will prevail through today.

害羞草研究所淒espite those cooler conditions, we are still dealing with those gusty winds.害羞草研究所�

Yet more lightning strikes yesterday, primarily over the central and northern Rockies. Luckily, the was spared but gusty & shifting winds remain a challenge.

害羞草研究所� ECCC Weather BC (@ECCCWeatherBC)

As for the forecast thunderstorms, MacDonald says they are coming with rain, but unlikely to soak anywhere south of Vernon.

害羞草研究所淜elowna is just at the southern boundary of where we are expecting storms to develop. We put it in the forecast for today, but we are expecting the thunderstorms to be confined northwards 害羞草研究所� Vernon and into the Shuswap,害羞草研究所� explains MacDonald.

害羞草研究所淟uckily, these thunderstorms, if they do materialize, will have some showers accompany them. Not a ton, but we could squeeze 3-5 mm out of them.害羞草研究所�

Here is the thunderstorm outlook for today, July 20th, 2018.

害羞草研究所� ECCC Weather BC (@ECCCWeatherBC)

As for the weekend, cloud coverage will roll in Saturday with a small chance of showers before things heat back up on Sunday.

害羞草研究所淚 would not get too excited for widespread rainfall, it will probably just be a spit at the most,害羞草研究所� says MacDonald.

害羞草研究所淭he outlook is not all that great. Temperatures start to climb again on Sunday into the low thirties and then we are looking at hot, dry weather.害羞草研究所�

MacDonald says Environment Canada sent a notice about to the BC Wildfire Service last week warning them the long-range forecast is not promising.

害羞草研究所淲e are in to a very prolonged stretch of dry weather. We have tried to find rain in the long-range forecast, but there is nothing in sight until well into the beginning of August.害羞草研究所�

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carmen.weld@bpdigital.ca
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