Smoky conditions forecast to slowly improve in Okanagan this week

OKANAGAN – Oppressively smoky skies put a damper on summer in the Okanagan over the weekend.

Environment Canada meteorologist Lisa Ervine says the heavy smoke concentrations in the city on Saturday, Aug. 18, inhibited daytime surface heating resulting in a high of only about 25 Celsius in the Okanagan against a forecast high of 28 C.

Smoke conditions eased somewhat on Sunday, resulting in a high of around 25 C against the forecast high of 28.

“Smoke can play a big role in temperature forecasting. Right now, we can only express smoke in days one and two of the forecast," Ervine says. "We are working to change that, as it’s not really descriptive of what’s actually expected to occur. We’ve had numerous complaints.”

She says forecasters try to account for smoke in the forecast but smoke concentrations are highly variable.

Ervine says without the smoke, the valley would likely be experiencing temperatures in the 30s, rather than in the upper 20s.

A slight change in the weather pattern has seen the wind shift from a northerly direction to a northeasterly flow, which is expected to improve air quality somewhat over the next three days.

Temperatures are expected to reach 27 C today, 28 C tomorrow and 29 C by Wednesday before falling off to the mid 20s on Thursday when a cold front makes its way into the Interior.

Along with the cooler temperatures the cold front brings the possibility of rain and thundershowers to the Okanagan, Ervine says.

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