Kamloops in store for weekend thundershowers, despite persisting heat

Aug 21, 2026 | 10:55 AM

KAMLOOPS — A unique weather pattern is bringing thundershowers and gusty winds to the Kamloops region.

As of publication, Environment Canada is forecasting a daytime high of 33 C Saturday (Aug. 22), but with the risk of a thunderstorm and a 60 per cent chance of showers in the afternoon. From there, showers and thunderstorms are expected to continue through Saturday night and Sunday, with a cooler daytime high of 23 C expected at the end of the weekend.

According to meteorologist Janelle Gergely, the upper atmosphere will be cooling off, creating favourable conditions for thunderstorms to develop. However, the heat that has built up in the lower atmosphere is expected to linger through Saturday.

“What’s great about the system that we see so far is that it doesn’t look to be just dry lightning,” Gergely told CFJC Today. “There does look to be showers with those thunderstorms that come through. Hopefully that will prevent some fire activity. There does look to be fairly widespread storms Saturday, Saturday night and Sunday, with things tapering off Sunday evening.

“It’s maybe a little bit unique. Partially it’s because of the timing that it’s coming through that we’re still able to get all that daytime heating, yet still have that favourable thunderstorm development.”

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Environment Canada is not anticipating flash flooding to occur during the thunderstorms in Kamloops.

“It’s when storms are stationary that often times they can drop a lot of water in a short amount of time,” Gergely says. “There’s some motion to them, so they might drop some localized higher amount, but then they should keep going.”

Residents are encouraged to go indoors when they hear the sound of thunder.

Additionally, Grigely says Kamloops residents should expect smoke to move into the area Friday with winds shifting toward an easterly direction. She says Environment Canada doesn’t extend its smoke models for too long as it depends on wildfire activity.

The weather agency expects temperatures in Kamloops to rebound to more moderate temperatures next week.

by Aaron Schulze

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Kamloops in store for weekend thundershowers, despite persisting heat

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