Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds
Weather

Chance of rain, lightning moves in for the long weekend

Aug 30, 2019 | 4:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — After a long stretch of sunshine and heat, Environment Canada says the B.C. Interior is due for a change this weekend.

Forecaster Doug Lundquist says showers are possible Saturday and Sunday.

“There’s a system southwest of Vancouver Island, an upper low, that’s going to try to move across the area at the beginning of the weekend. This could perhaps set off some showers and maybe some thunderstorms,” said Lundquist.

The potential for lightning is concerning, considering the dry conditions in the Interior.

But Lundquist says the late date in the summer season means the risks from lightning aren’t quite as high.

“It is late in the season. We consider September 1 to be the first day of fall. There’s not nearly as much power or energy in the Sun as there was earlier in the summer, but there’s still enough that we could have some lightning around, mostly likely to be on Saturday or Sunday,” said Lundquist.

“Those two days certainly could be showery or thunderstorms and a little bit cooler again,” Lundquist continued. “We’re expecting temperatures to get back into the mid-20s for Sunday and Monday — which is about average for this time of year — and then pop right back up again next week.”