Upcoming weather forecasts expect to see warmer temperatures continue after a cooler start to summer

Photo: Contributed

The Okanagan saw a very different weather pattern, especially through the month of July this year.

“We started out cold and wet, ended up really hot and dry, but it didn’t turn hot and dry until later than we usually get. It usually comes between the third and the tenth - the change here in the southern interior - but it didn’t come until much later in the month,” said Doug Lundquist, Meteorologist for Environment Canada. 

The average was also a degree lower than usual in Penticton, coming in at 20 degrees instead of 21. Precipitation across the region was also lower than previous years, with Kelowna seeing half the usual amount of precipitation, and Vernon only at a third.

“It was perhaps perfect in the sense that here in the Okanagan it was cold and wet through May through July and that's helped to put a damper on the fire weather season which only recently just started,” Lundquist said. 

“The more rain we have the deeper level of moisture we have… it does take some time for that to dry out.”

However, he added that the top layer of grasses and small twigs dry out quickly and create easy fuel. 

“Certainly you can get going with fire weather after the kind of heat we’ve been through and that’s why we’ve seen a spike there over those last few days.” 

The last week of July and the first week of August remains the hottest time of the year, where Lundquist adds where heat waves could be. 

“That time of year is pretty much past us to try and make a 40 degree [high].”

There is an expectation for cooling off in the coming week, which will hopefully help provide assistance for firefighters Lundquist added.

Records were also broken for hottest days, and August 3 was in the top five for warmest ever nights in Penticton recording at 23.3 for the overnight low.    

The upcoming forecast for the month is switching between hot days and cooling down with some rain. 

However the next three month forecast expects that there’s a high likelihood of being warmer than average. 

“Maybe just maybe, summer will get extended into the fall and we might see some summer weather persisting.”